Huge rugby league derby to be battle of the schoolmates as pals go head-to-head

ZACH Eckersley will go from the classroom to the heat of the derby as he looks to give pal Jacob Douglas another lesson. The pair were in the same year at Saddleworth School in Oldham, Greater Manchester and found themselves in the same set for several subjects. Zach Eckersley is ready to go up against school pal Jacob Douglas when Wigan take on St Helens. Credit: SWPIX.COM Douglas and Eckersley were in the same set for subjects at Saddleworth School in Greater Manchester. Credit: SWPIX.COM Now Wigan’s Eckersley is out to inflict more pain on St Helens’ Douglas, just three weeks after the sides slugged it out at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in a 16-14 Magic Weekend classic. After playing in the same junior football team in their home area, he also believes he already has one over his mate in just five words: “I was the better player.” Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! “Dougie and I played for the same football club, same rugby club, went to the same school and were in a lot of the same classes. “As you get older, you get put in sets and we were in the same for English, Maths and PE – we were both good lads too! READ MORE ON RUGBY LEAGUE “It doesn’t feel weird playing against him really. It’s a game of rugby at the end of the day, you’ve just got to try and win the two points for your club, so don’t really think too much about it. “Obviously, we’re close mates, but I’m playing for Wigan and he’s playing for St Helens, so I’m trying to win the game for my club.” Wigan meet St Helens for the second time in three weeks after a brutal Magic Weekend clash that left everyone watching feeling the blows. But both he and boss Matt Peet believe making matches into events more often can only be a good thing, with Eckersley adding: “That last one was a tough game. It was a long game as well. Most read in Sport Eckersley has revealed he was told to put weight on over the off season. Credit: SWPIX.COM Eckersley’s form has put him in the running for a place in England’s World Cup squad. Credit: SWPIX.COM “After it, everyone was just like, ‘It was a bit of a crazy game,’ but we definitely enjoyed it. “This is a massive game and it’s our home game, so I think there’s going to be a big crowd and the stadium will be pumping.” Peet, likely to welcome star half back Bevan French back, added: “Magic Weekend was a great success and I think everyone would agree that our game saw it off in good style. “This game never really fails to deliver. There’s no doubt they’ve had a very tough time of injuries, but I still see Jack Welsby as one of the premier players in the competition. Tristan Sailor has probably been St Helens’ Player of the Year. “Jackson Hastings is right up there with the assists, and we all know how much influence he can have on a game. Then there’s Harry Robertson, last year’s Super League Young Player of the Year. “We’re all very aware that players are missing, but there’s still a lot of danger for us to contend with.” Eckersley’s form has catapulted him into the England reckoning ahead of this year’s World Cup and last week’s hat-trick at Huddersfield did no harm. And he revealed it all comes from having the instruction many people would dream of over an off-season – put weight on. Not just pig out and slob out but make sure his body is bigger so he can ride challenges better and cope with what is coming at him. The 23-year-old added: “I got challenged with gaining weight and that’s really helped me this year. “There was no specific weight the coaches wanted me to get to, just as much as I could really. “I gained five kilos over pre-season and that helps me with my carries from my own end and things like that. “It’s really benefited me. It was just a case of getting the calories in by eating a lot of food and doing big gym sessions. “That kind of takes care of itself if you’re eating the right food and it’s helping me in collision and things like that. “I’m just trying to use it to my advantage and hopefully I can keep doing that throughout the rest of the year.” Comment now