IN MY OPINION: Wigan are our fiercest rivals (From Warrington Guardian)

IN MY OPINION: Wigan are our fiercest rivals

7:00am Friday 8th February 2013 in Wolves news By Mike Parsons, Guardian comment

WIGAN are Wolves’ fiercest rivals, in my opinion.

St Helens have put up a strong case over the years, especially with that Knowsley Road hoodoo they held over Warrington for so long and now with Wolves having ended their run of Grand Final appearances.

I certainly do not go along with the view held by some that Widnes Vikings are Wolves’ number one enemy. Number three in my book.

I certainly enjoy a win against Wigan more than any other and I feel a loss against them just as much.

Having attended so many huge league and cup encounters between the two clubs in the 80s and 90s – and being on the losing side except once – it is hard to feel any differently all these years later.

Judging by the way Wolves’ fans turn up in such force at the DW Stadium each season tells me that many of you view it similarly.

The Warrington players feel it too. Former head coach Paul Cullen always said that a week leading up to a Wigan game was above any other.

It has pained me over the Super League years to have had the St Helens v Wigan Warriors rivalry rammed down our throats so often, especially with the Magic events when Wolves have been left to have their ‘derby’ clashes against Huddersfield Giants or Salford City Reds.

It has almost been disrespectful.

I honestly believe that no Saints v Wigan game in the past five years has been better than the fayre served up by a Wolves v Wigan bash-up or a Wolves v Saints battle for that matter.

Warrington and Wigan have been the most consistent teams for the past two years and it means getting one over the arch-enemy at this early stage of 2013 would feel better than it has ever done.