BRITISH rugby league has new champions for the first time in eight years.

Super St Helens have replaced mighty Wigan as the game's top club - and the jubilant Knowsley Road outfit have done it in glorious style with their first double for 30 years.

The Challenge Cup holders clinched the inaugural Super League title - and the £60,000 winners' cheque - by demolishing Warrington 66-14 in the last game of the season.

And 18,098, Saints' biggest crowd of the season, were on hand to witness history in the making. Afterwards, St Helens skipper Bobbie Goulding, who won the double twice with Wigan in the early 1990s, promised: "This Saints side can only get better. If we can sign a few more players, we'll be on our way."

But Wigan coach Graeme West is determined his side will bounce back by clinching the Premiership Trophy.

He said: "That is something that the lads have been working towards for several games. It is disappointing to lose the title but the point dropped at home to the London Broncos proved decisive." Wigan look likely to field an unchanged side for the intriguing Premiership Trophy semi-final with Bradford Bulls on Saturday night and should include Shaun Edwards whose future is being discussed by the Board tonight.

The scrum-half has asked for another 12 months extension to his current contract which expires at the end of next season.

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