HOW the times have changed.

Not too long ago Saints would routinely get bullied off the park by an abrasive Wigan pack, fired and fuelled by the words of coach Shaun Wane.

Not any more.

And Saints’ pack is a good starting point to explain why this side, despite missing key players in all areas of the field, took the full strength Warriors apart.

That dominance was epitomised by the sight of big Alex Walmsley bouncing off the tacklers and get his team on the front foot.

Saints forwards marmalised the game but lightweight Warriors six and afforded halves Jon Wilkin and Travis Burns the platform to produce an effective and varied kicking game.

Wigan’s Matty Bowen in particular was haunted by the boot – not down to personal frailties of the experienced NRL full back but a result of the pressure that Saints had built for a good portion of the game.

Although the Warriors had taken the lead on 11 minutes through a converted Dan Sarginson try, Saints began to win the arm wrestle, pinning the visitors back with Wilkin’s and Burns’ kicking game working superbly.

After a Mose Masoe surge, they fanned the ball wide where Jordan Turner sent Adam Swift in at the corner.

Shortly after that Burns plundered a 40/20 to create the position for Turner to force his way over the line.

Alas, a forced pass that went to ground and against the run of play speedster Joe Burgess raced the full length to put the Warriors ahead at half time.

Saints had shown enough in the first half to show they were not looking for injury alibis and when Wilkin’s kick was spilled by the hapless Bowen, the alert Burns touched down.

Joel Tomkins levelled, but Saints were winning the war of attrition.

They still needed the crucial break, and after Percival’s penalty had nudged them back in front it took a try saving track back from Masoe to stop another against the run of play try.

It was blood and thunder stuff – literally – with Wilkin left with claret all over his face – an incident which bizarrely saw the Saints skipper penalised for interference.

A quick bandage and it was shades of Twickenham 2006 with the skipper back on with a vengeance.

His high punt was dropped by Bowen, allowing on-song full back Shannon McDonnell to cash in for a try.

And Wilkin fittingly grabbed the last try, when another Wigan error - this time a loose pass – allowed the captain to pick up and score.

No wonder he had a smile on his face on a memorable night, that added another notch on to the new, clean concrete of Langtree Park.