Under Rowley’s tenure, Saints had won the first derby of the season thanks to a memorable comeback win at Easter, but a hammering in the Challenge Cup semi-final soon after and a narrow defeat at the Magic Weekend earlier this month meant Wigan came into this latest meeting with momentum over their rivals.
Yet it was St Helens who went ahead inside the opening five minutes as Welsby weaved his way through, prospering after Harry Smith failed to stop his run when he lost his footing in the build-up.
That lead did not last long and Wigan hit back via a flowing set of passes as they eventually sent French through to score with ease.
If Wigan’s move was good, Douglas’ score was even better and came via some quick movement from a scrum, but no sooner did they score than Wigan worked the ball wide to Eckersley who touched down at the corner to make things square once more.
The hosts were not done there and edged ahead when French put in a sumptuous kick to the corner for Eckersley to collect and ground in sensational fashion for his 30th try of the season.
Saints’ Harry Robertson controversially had a try chalked off despite his score being given by referee Liam Moore on the field. On review, video referee Jack Smith ruled it out – with television replays not conclusively showing the ball had not been grounded.
After the break, Wigan kept up a sustained spell of pressure and were rewarded when Partington crashed over the line, and things went from bad to worse for Saints as Jackson Hastings was sin-binned against his former club for a pull back on French, denying him a potential try.
Partington added a second in the interim and Keighran beat Murphy to the punch as he successfully – and easily – chased a kick to go in for another Wigan try, but Murphy atoned with nine minutes left as he dived in at the corner.
Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet told Radio Manchester:
“I’m pleased with the two points, I’m pleased we came through healthy. There were elements where we were quite loose. Saints were desperate, it was probably exactly the kind of game I expected to be honest.
“We just had to do the right things and we were confident we had the better of it when it went set for set.
“Bevan [French] will be better for the run-out that’s for sure. He brings a lot to the group.”
St Helens interim coach Eamon O’Carroll told Radio Merseyside:
“I couldn’t be any prouder of the group and the way they responded to some adversity before and during the game.
“I asked them for effort and intent and to be desperate and I thought we showed loads of signs of that. We can build on the back of that now.
“I saw from the start of the week how we prepared and what went on with Rowls I saw how the lads came together.
“I knew there was one thing I would get today and that was effort and a group that wanted to play for the jersey and I am so proud of that. We’ve got to back it up and do that again for the rest of the season, it can’t be a one-off.”
Wigan: Field; Eckersley, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Havard, O’Neill, Thompson, Partington, Ellis, Kerr.
Interchanges: Walters, Mago, Hodkinson, O’Connor.
St Helens: Welsby; Murphy, Sailor, Davies, Douglas; Robertson, Hastings; Host, Burns, Suluka-Fifita, Cartwright, Wright, Shorrocks.
Interchanges: Delaney, Sinclair, Humphreys, Evans.
Referee: Liam Moore.