Injury-hit St Helens plotting derby-day rebound against Wigan

Stand-in captain Jackson Hastings has warned Wigan not to judge St Helens by their collapse last time out when it comes to the Good Friday derby.

The 52-10 reverse at Hull KR underlined the extent of Saints’ debilitating injury list, but the former Super League Man of Steel has dismissed it as a one-off.

Hastings, who has been leading the side in his first season at the club in the absence of Matty Lees, has promised there will be a rebound at the BrewDog Stadium.

“Last Friday was a bit of a blip, but those things happen over the course of a season. With the amount of players we’ve got out, it was due to happen because of fatigue and workload of players,” the 30-year-old half-back told BBC Radio Merseyside.

“We’ve squeezed the lemon out of a lot of young kids that probably weren’t expecting to play as much footy. There was always going to be a breaking point, and maybe that was Friday night. But we took some valuable lessons in mentality from that game.

“It won’t take much to get people up for a Good Friday game. I’m expecting a bounce-back, certainly in mentality.”

It will be Hastings’ first derby in Saints colours, but having spent two seasons at Wigan earlier in his career, he knows all about what to expect atmosphere-wise from a sell-out occasion.

“I’ve played in four or five games against St Helens for Wigan. Now I get to play against them on the other side. I feel very lucky about that,” he said.

“I know what they’re going to bring and, judging from the week we’ve had, I know what Saints are going to bring too.”