St Helens v Wigan Warriors: Emotional Grand Final ahead as fiercest rivals collide again

IT HAS been 10 years since Wigan and St Helens last met in a Super League Grand Final, ample reason alone why Sean Long feels tonight's showpiece could prove a classic encounter.

There are few better placed to give their thoughts on what the intense rivalry is like given the veteran scrum-half was born in Wigan and played briefly for his home-town club before becoming a legend with their fiercest foes.

Long, who featured in the last four Grand Finals with Saints before switching to Hull after last season's loss to Leeds, has triumphed at Old Trafford on four occasions – 1999, 2000, 2002 and, against his current club, 2006.

But that evening when they brought Wigan to their knees, a side boasting such stellar talent as Jason Robinson, Andy Farrell, Steve Renouf and Denis Betts, was the pinnacle.

"I remember making a break towards the back end and putting Chris Joynt in between the posts," recalled Long about Saints' 29-16 victory in 2000.

"Joynty was outstanding that night and we knew we'd won it then but it had been a tough game. We had some great encounters but that one probably stood out – a massive game, a massive derby on a massive stage.

"There's only a couple of people playing on Saturday who will remember that night – Keiron and Wello – and I expect them both to have big matches.

"They knew how much that fixture meant in 2000. I'd never have guessed it'd be another 10 years before we'd face each other again as we were the two dominant sides then, but I'm sure it's going to be worth waiting for."

Legendary hooker Keiron Cunningham, right, brings an end to his glorious 17-year career tonight hoping to lead Saints to glory alongside full-back Wellens, who plays in his eighth final. The only others, apart from Long, still operating a decade on are Lee Gilmour and Dave Hodgson, then of Wigan but both now at Huddersfield, and Long's opposite number Willie Peters, the Australian scrum-half currently playing reserve grade with South Sydney.

Poignantly, one other who featured in 2000 with Wigan was Terry Newton, tragically found hanged last Sunday.

A minute's silence will be held for the former Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield hooker, although there had been suggestion that a minute's applause could take place instead amid fears Saints fans could disrupt the tribute.

The Wiganer broke Long's jaw in an infamous incident in 2005 and had been the subject of much abuse from their fans throughout his career.

However, Saints are sure their faithful will respect a player held in high esteem for his footballing quality.

Wigan, who, like in 2000, enter as league leaders, could be affected by the distressing recent events. But Long, who grew up on the same estate and later became firm friends with his ex-Great Britain team-mate, said: "It's been a tough week, not just for them but the whole of rugby league. Everyone was Tez's mate. He's got friends all over Wigan, Saints and everywhere else. It's just so sad what has happened."