Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors: England-squad friendships put on hold by Sarginson

Dan Sarginson is determined to record his first win at Leeds Rhinos as a Wigan player, but will have to upset some of his former England colleagues to do it.

“I know some of the Leeds boys from England and they are quality,” Sarginson said of tonight’s opponents.

“I’ve always got on with them, they are really humble blokes.

“They are class players and we’ve done our homework on them this week and we know we’ll need to contain their back-five.

“As much as I get on with them, once we’re on the field it’s a different ball game.”

Rhinos’ Ryan Hall was Sarginson’s winger when the Wigan centre made his England debut against Australia four years ago.

“It’s pretty good to play alongside him,” he said.

“With some wingers you need to do a bit more as a centre, but Ryan Hall, you can give him a one-on-one – you don’t have to do anything to get the opposition winger interested.

“The winger could be ready, waiting for him, but anything from five metres out and he scores.

“As a centre, you’re just racking up assists.

“For a big boy, he gets through a lot yardage, he’s not just one-dimensional – he’s a complete package.”

Wigan have not won at Emerald Headingley since a 50-8 rout in 2012, but Sarginson knows what it takes.

“I’ve never won there with Wigan, but I was at London when they won there,” Sarginson recalled.

“We beat them twice in one year, home and away.

“We were bottom of the table, but we did the double over Leeds.

“It was pretty cool, to be fair.”