Wigan stunned rivals St Helens with a stirring second-half performance to claim a place in the engage Super League play-offs for the first time in three years.

The Warriors trailed 10-6 at the break but found an extra gear to hold off the champions and retain their top-six spot ahead of Warrington.

Tries from Thomas Leuluai and Liam Colbon, as well as three goals from Pat Richards, proved crucial as the Warriors edged an electric derby in front of 22,031 at the JJB Stadium.

Wigan had gone into the game under pressure after losing their last eight matches to Saints and with Warrington facing a relatively easier task at relegated Salford.

Yet they somehow found enough in the tank to earn a victory that meant the deduction of four points for breaching salary cap restrictions would not prove too costly.

The win also meant another game for Maurice Lindsay, the long-serving and influential Wigan chairman who is retiring at the end of the season.

Lindsay himself was unable to attend the game after recently undergoing an operation.

Yet it was Saints who held a slight advantage after a breathless first half due to tries from Willie Talau and Ade Gardner. Wigan's lone first-half try came from David Vaealiki.

It was the visitors who created the first meaningful attack as Matt Gidley supported a break by Leon Pryce but the move broke down with an uncharacteristic knock-on from Keiron Cunningham at dummy half.

Another chance went by as Mike Bennett spilled the ball close to the line but Wigan gave as good as they got in the early stages and twice had Saints scrambling to clear.

Gardner did particularly well to grab a dangerous bouncing kick from Thomas Leuluai as Vaealiki looked poised to touch down.

A needless penalty gave Saints the chance to take the lead on 13 minutes as Leon Pryce rifled a long-range pass wide for Willie Talau to race through.

Wigan responded instantly with Vaealiki breaking from deep inside his own half for a superb try.

The Kiwi had options to his left and right but dummied a pass to Mark Calderwood to fool full-back Paul Wellens and race in.

Pat Richards added the extras to put Wigan in front but in keeping with an end-to-end encounter, Saints had the lead back before the break.

They were denied when Richards brilliantly intercepted close to his own line but there was no denying Gardner from a pinpoint Pryce kick.

Stand-off Pryce was given time to pick his spot and his high bomb to the corner was inch-perfect for Gardner. Wellens converted to give the visitors a four-point cushion at the break.

Wigan made just the start to the second half they needed as Leuluai crashed over following a superb run from Iafeta Paleaaesina three minutes after the restart.

Richards' second conversion put the Warriors back ahead and Sean O'Loughlin narrowly failed to take a pass that would have given the hosts another try moments later.

Saints were getting little respite as Wigan kept up the momentum and it was the video referee who came to their aid to deny Calderwood a try as Leuluai was caught offside.

The visitors managed to get back level at 12-12 through Wellens after Phil Bailey conceded a try in front of the posts but Wigan remained on top and were rewarded as Vaealiki put Colbon over from close range on the right.

Richards missed the conversion but made amends with a penalty soon after and another goal close to full-time saw the Warriors home.