Rugby League: Noble - No place like home

May 3 2008 Media Wales

Wigan coach Brian Noble will tell his players to imagine they are back home at the JJB Stadium when they run out to face arch rivals St Helens at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.

Cardiff has been an unhappy hunting ground for the Warriors, who lost there to Saints in the 2004 Challenge Cup final and were beaten 34-18 by them in the inaugural Millennium Magic event 12 months ago.

Although Wigan gained a 20-12 victory over the then defending champions at the JJB Stadium in the last match of the regular season last September, they crashed to a 46-10 defeat at Knowsley Road on Good Friday and Noble admits it is time they reversed their derby form.

"We’ve got to keep that local derby mentality," he said. "I don’t want us to be accused of not showing up to play this team in particular.

"It’s about time we invested emotionally in this game. We have done in the past at different times but they took it away from us really early in the game at Knowsley Road this season and that’s something we need to address.

"We’re treating it as if it’s at the JJB, as our home fixture, and it’s important that we’re strong."

St Helens, who held their pre-season training camp in South Wales, enjoy their trips to Cardiff and for coach Daniel Anderson, who will be making his final visit to the Millennium Stadium ahead of his return to Australia at the end of the season, is treating the weekend’s event as a bonding exercise.

"The Millennium Stadium is a truly world-class facility and you do not get that many career opportunities to play at venues like this," he said.

"It is also very good for the squad to get away and effectively go into camp ahead of the game.

"We predominantly travel by bus on game day and every now and then it is good to spend a day in camp as a soft bonding experience."

Another team aiming to end derby misery are Hull, who were beaten 14-10 by Rovers in the 200th Hull derby at the Millennium Stadium a year ago and lost 42-6 at home to them last September.

Justin Morgan’s men also won 11-10 at Craven Park on Good Friday and are a place above their arch rivals in the engage Super League table.

"Derby games are always special but they are extra special for the local lads in the side," said Hull stand-off Danny Washbrook.

"We have a few locals in the team and make no mistakes this is one game we desperately want to win.

"It means a lot to us and you can rest assured we will all be giving it everything to get that win.

"In the last few derby matches we haven’t performed that well and have probably let ourselves down. We want to put that right."

Form team Catalans Dragons kick off tomorrow’s programme in Cardiff with a match against Harlequins.

The Londoners won three of the four Anglo-French meetings with the Catalans in 2007 but Mick Potter’s men triumphed 24-10 at the Twickenham Stoop on Good Friday as part of their club record eight-match unbeaten run.

"It was great to play there last year and I know the boys are looking forward to being part of the Millennium Magic weekend again this time around," said Harlequins coach Brian McDermott.