The move to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium has “re-energised” the Magic Weekend concept, according to Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet.
His in-form team’s meeting with arch-rivals St Helens will be the climax to two days of Super League fixtures at the new ground.
Both coaches have praised the shift to Merseyside after the event was hosted by Newcastle United’s St James’ Park for four of the past five seasons.
Peet, whose side sit third in Super League and won the Challenge Cup in May, told BBC Radio Manchester: “This one feels particularly exciting and fresh.
“New venue, ticket sales through the roof. It’s always been a good concept but it’s been re-energised.
“We tend to be in the headline games and wouldn’t have it any other way. I can see exactly why the organisers would fix that up and it’s sure to deliver.”
Saints boss Rowley pointed out his club, closest to Everton’s ground geographically at about 15 miles away, has sold more tickets than the other 13 sides taking part.
He told BBC Radio Merseyside: “It’s an opportunity for our sport to showcase itself in the best light, in a new part of the world. We’re all looking forward to it, and we get the pleasure of the last game on the last day.
“Saints fans are happy because we’ve outnumbered everyone in ticket sales, voting with their feet.”
Both teams will be hit hard by injuries, with Rowley saying he has 12 players unavailable, although the return of hooker Daryl Clark is a big boost.
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Injury issues threaten to mar top meeting
Peet has lost some big names with captain Liam Farrell suffering a shoulder injury, Noah Hodgkinson needing surgery on a skull and eye socket fracture, playmaker Bevan French tweaking a hamstring for another month out and Luke Thompson damaging foot ligaments.
Wigan thrashed Saints 32-0 last time the old rivals met, in the Challenge Cup semi-final in May, and Peet said he felt Saints had “lost their identity”, a comment Rowley refused to address.
Peet has since said he stood by that opinion, but added it was said in the emotion of the moment, and he was full of praise for Rowley’s team.
He added: “You look at the quality. David Klemmer is an outstanding front rower, [along with] Alex Walmsley, and Daryl Clark’s the current England nine, then Jackson [Hastings], Tristan [Sailor] and Jack Welsby are probably as good a three ball-players as you are going to get.”
“They have plenty of threat. I know they’ve had challenges with injuries but when you look at the team it looks rock solid. That right edge with [Owen] Dagnall and [Harry] Robertson is exciting, not just for the present but for the future as well.”
Rowley was equally effusive about the opposition, who have won four league games on the spin, scoring 180 points in the process, as well as sweeping aside Hull KR 40-10 in the Challenge Cup final.
“Since the semi against us they’ve been absolutely on fire, credit where it’s due,” said Rowley, whose Saints side sit fifth but are level on 22 points with Wigan.
“I’m always quick to give credit when it’s deserved and I think they’ve been fantastic and had some huge results, none more so than the Wembley one.
“You prepare to play against a champion team, so you have to be good in every sense of the word. You have to keep your feet moving, because as we’ve seen in the opening 65 to 70 minutes against York they were pretty much untouchable.
“We were really good against Bradford, at a tough venue. I really enjoyed that performance, there were some green shoots in there.
“We’ve probably not moved forward in terms of how I’d like our team to look as quickly as we could have done, but we’ve got some mitigation regarding all our injuries. It’s a journey we’re on, and we’re happy and confident.”
