The day the rivalry doesn't exist or the " needle" between the fans stops then I will stop going to any game
As for wire fans.. I think they have a tiny section of idiots but so do we and every other club..

I'd take the same view as Bowtun warrior on this one. On the pitch you know the passion and desire to win for both teams will be immense, but on the sidelines before and after the game between fans its a very different atmosphere. Had some good banter with a few saints fans before the game and didn't see any trouble, a few drunken idiots mouthing off but thats nothing unusual.

Whilst we are clearly saints biggest rivals, off the pitch it's always a great day where you can feel relaxed. Unfortunately I don't feel the same way when we play wire.

Has it ever been gone.

The rivalry between our clubs is second to none in RL,sure there is hatred there at times but I have always had the upmost respect for Wigan as a club and will continue to do so,just hope the feeling is mutual.

exactly there were some people who were a bit drunk shouting daft things in the pub and taunting the saints fans a bit but one of the saints fans who was with us did shout would you sing that in a wire pub? no you wouldn't there would be blood running down the walls

I respect Saints, I do not respect Wire, that is the difference.

I hate them both with every fibre of my being, but, I have a begrudging respect for Saints.

I walked from the stadium, to the rail station, with not a spot of bother, and people just discussing the game. This is why I love rugby league.

The derby is a pleasure of a day. Real enjoyment.

Going to Chesire is not.
My partner loves the derby. She is genuinely intimidated by going to Warrington after the last few years. I've NEVER heard her ask me to not ask her to go to the derby again. Shame the same can't be said for the other lot.

I think it's possible to overstate the 'we respect each other' thing.

It was easy to dislike the Saints fans yesterday. There was a lot of chav activity by people in Saints colours after the game. I think the Bank Holiday brings out quite a lot of this - the same thing seems to have happened at Wakey v Cas.

Saints are on a roller coaster ride at present. The unexpected Grand Final appearance last year gave them a false impression of their team's current strength. They were in the process of losing key players and were being very poorly coached. But the reality of that only hit home this year, which was a big shock to them. After that, they had the Rush/Cunningham bounce - as it would be called in political terms (aided by a Warrington team for whom arrogance appears to have replaced self-belief, and a farcical, pantomine turn from Leeds) - and again, as in politics, it only lasted a brief time. Yesterday they finally met a top side who meant business and the inevitable happened.

It's perhaps understandable why so many of them were so 'nowt', as they say. But I'm not sure that really excuses scrotey behaviour. So yes, until the Saints fans in general man up, the answer to the question must be that, yes, the hatred is back.

Great post.

Great day out, didnt see a spot of bother all day, not even a comment in our direction... the Saints v Wigan games are the most intense atmosphere inside the ground you will ever find certainly in this sport, ive been to several old firm games and over 20 Wigan Saints games and the feeling during the game is very much the same but unlike old firm games or trips to Warrington there is a mutual respect between Wigan and Saints which is superb.

-bandwagon wire-fans-had too at that one! thats rich coming from a wigan fan-check your attendencies when wigan athletic were rising through the lower leagues to the prem? see how many-true wigan rlfc fans dropped off !well until wigan athlectic did feck all in the prem!then talk about bandwagon fans

agreed, but by the same token,its also very,very,annoying and also very disrespectful to call all -true wire rugby fans- scum i myself have have a good banter with all true rugby fans,regardless of who they support