Betfred Super League: St Helens v Wigan preview, TV details and team news

Sky Sports Arena & Mix, 7.45pm Thursday

The Betfred Super League’s opener has been overshadowed by the news that Wigan will kick off the campaign on minus two points after being penalised for breaching the salary cap in 2017.

The champions are 17-10 to launch the defence of their title with a win at old rivals St Helens and end the evening in the curious position of topping the table on zero points.

Wigan won 30-10 on their last trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium in August but much has changed in both camps since.

Saints have lost last year’s Man of Steel Ben Barba and will give debuts to Lachlan Coote, Joseph Paulo and Kevin Naiqama, while Theo Fages appears to have, at least temporarily, replaced Danny Richardson as first-choice scrum-half.

With Adrian Lam replacing Shaun Wane at the helm, Wigan are expected to play a more expansive brand of rugby but that may be easier said than done given the snow that has been falling in the north-west.

Last season’s three derby meetings averaged 33 points and it will be interesting to see where bookmakers pitch their total-points lines.

The visitors' first-choice wingers Dom Manfredi and Joe Burgess are unavailable due to injury and Jarrod Sammut is suspended but the visitors still look the pick with more than an unconverted-try start on the match handicap.

Backing Wigan with that buffer would have been a winning wager on the last six occasions this fixture has been played.

A tight and tense opening night seems likely and it would be no surprise to see the scoring opened with a penalty which can be backed at a shade over 3-1.

A two-pointer was the opening scoring play in the middle of last year’s three derbies.

Wigan debutant Zak Hardaker is 7-1 favourite to be named man of the match as he returns from a 16-month ban after testing positive for cocaine.

Recommendations
Wigan +4.5
3pts 5-6 Coral, Ladbrokes
Wigan penalty first scoring play
1pt 15-2 Paddy Power
St Helens first scoring play
1pt 7-1 Paddy Power

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