Steve Price’s Warrington side welcome Danny Ward’s London to the Halliwell Jones for this round nine clash. Here’s everything you need to know.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Warrington Wolves
The Wire currently sit second, after their 12-63 win against Hull FC last time out. The Wolves have won seven games this year and have tasted defeat only once, losing against Catalans 23-22 at the beginning of March.
London Broncos
The Broncos currently sit 11th, after their 26-38 defeat against Huddersfield Giants last time out. Last season’s Million Pound Game winners have won three of their nine games, with their last victory coming against Leeds, when they won 16-18 three weeks ago.
SQUAD NEWS
Warrington Wolves
Steve Price has made two changes to his side. Sitaleki Akauola is back and Matt Davis is in line to make his Super League debut for the Wolves. They come into the squad for Jake Mamo (ankle) and Jack Hughes (rested).
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News broke this week about a triple contract extension, with Tom Lineham, Toby King and Joe Philbin all signing deals keeping them at the club until the end of the 2021 season.
Warrington 19-man squad: Akauola, Atkins, Austin, Charnley, D Clark, J Clark, Cooper, Currie, Davis, Hill, King, Lineham, Livett, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, Ratchford, Tasi, Walker.
London Broncos
Danny Ward has been forced into several changes after last weekend’s defeat.ย James Cunningham, Ryan Morgan and Jacob Ogden replace Luke Yates, Elliot Kear and Matt Davis. Yates and Kear both miss out due to concussion assessment protocol and Davis returns to the Wolves, following a month-long loan.
With ex-Wolves Rhys Williams and Morgan Smith making their first return to the Halliwell Jones Stadum since departing, London will be hoping they could help the side to victory. Ryan Morgan will hope to score his first try for the Broncos in his seventh appearance for the club.
London 19-man squad: Battye, Butler, Cunningham, Davies, Dixon, Fleming, Gee, Ioane, Lovell, Mason, Ogden, Pelissier, Pitts, Richards, Smith, Walker, Williams.
HEAD TO HEAD
The last meeting between these two sides was in the 2017 Qualifiers, when the Wire came out on top 40-38.ย However, the meeting before that was a 72-12 win for the Wolves back in 2014.
In the last five meetings between the two sides, the Wire have won all five, with the Wolves scoring 292 points, an average of 58.4 points per game. The Broncos have scored just 102 points over the last five meetings, which is an average of 20.4 points per game.
KEY BATTLE
Josh Charnley (Warrington Wolves) v Kieran Dixon (London Broncos)
The key battle is of the wingers. In the Wolves corner is Josh Charnley. After a hat-trick last week, which takes his season tally to ten, the winger ended his first full year as a Wire with a bang. With more games ahead, he is always looking to score more. With his hunter skills to force his way to the line, he will be hard to stop.
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For London is Kieran Dixon. The kicking winger has had an impressive start with his side this year, scoring four tries and 20 goals so far. The 26 year old can be lethal in attack but also strong in defence, scoring a double last time out against Huddersfield. He could be key for a Broncos win.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday 5th April
Venue: The Halliwell Jones Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Referee: Jack Smith
WHO WILL WIN?
I can only see one result in this one, which is a Warrington victory. The question will be by how much! But if last week’s ruthless display is anything to go off, if London don’t bring their best, they could face a long night.
