JON Wilkin admits he would like to see the day when Salford v St Helens takes on the status of a battle between two nearby north-west powerhouses – Manchester v Liverpool.
For he believes that is where rugby league is falling short.
A total of 11 miles separate both areas from their more illustrious areas – and all of that is between Liverpool and St Helens as Manchester and Salford neighbour each other.
Yet the presence of the game in both is negligible and Wilkin would like to see that change.
“I’d like it to be seen more as Manchester v Liverpool than Salford v St Helens one day,” he said.
“The game’s going to grow and we’re very passionate about telling everyone that we’re not just a northern sport.
“I couldn’t be any different, though. If we’re going to be a northern sport, then lets be the sport of the north.
“We’re missing a trick as rugby union is not particularly strong in these areas yet two big cities are missing.
“For me, the growth of the game is going to be away from the north but we need to develop these areas and this can be a showcase for that.”
Back-rower Wilkin would even go a step further than raising interest in Manchester, where he has a business, and Liverpool, where he lives.
He added: “There’s a real opportunity for Salford and Saints to lead a push in Manchester and Liverpool.
“But I would like to see clubs in both those places too. I’d like to see another club in Manchester and a genuine outfit in Liverpool.”
Future plans aside, Wilkin has aims of his own tonight – continuing Saints’ resurgence while getting one over on business partner and Salford ace Mark Flanagan.
The pair own coffee shop Pot Kettle Black in Manchester city centre and talk of the impending meeting on the field has been low-key, so far.
And do not expect business meetings to end up in a slanging match over who plays for the better team.
Wilkin, 33, added: “We’re getting much better at splitting things apart in our relationship as business partners.
“We’ll talk about rugby one time, coffee another, business another and stuff that mates talk about another.
“But Mark will go for it with us playing each other more than me. I don’t really get bothered by it, I see Mark as more like a little brother.”
Wilkin may also have a surprise in his arsenal after stunning Warrington last week with a 40/20 kick that started out looking like a shank that would go out on the full.
However, the ball drifted back in, bounced and went out of play, leading to a Saints scrum, lots of laughs and stunned silence from opposition fans.
Wilkin said: “It 100 per cent took me by surprise,” he recalled. “All I could hear when I kicked it was the Warrington fans cheering, then when it bounced and went out, they were quiet – all I could do was laugh.
“It was one of the ugliest kicks which ended up as a 40/20 ever!”
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