JAMES Bell saved his senior Saints debut for the biggest Super League game on the calendar - playing second row in the 22-4 victory over rivals Wigan.

The Scottish international, who joined from relegated Leigh in the off-season, has had to be patient for his opportunity playing reserves and on dual reg with his former club.

With Sione Mata'utia injured and Curtis Sironen banned, Bell slipped into the second row.

There his big-hitting display rocked a succession of often much heavier Warriors ball carriers in an all-action performance.

Afterwards coach Kristian Woolf said: "That is why we signed him.

"When he was playing at Leigh we loved the energy he was playing with and plays well above his weight.

"He has a real skill factor about him too.

"We threw him into a bit of a foreign position in the biggest game of the year and with the crowd, and everything in the game, there was a lot of pressure on him.

"He hasn’t played a lot of footy and has been a little bit unlucky with a few things keeping him out when his opportunity came.

"It is a credit to him. He is out of the position where he is most comfortable and I thought he did a great job, even when he looked fatigued.

"He kept finding an effort and kept scrapping away and that is what we love about him."