Hull FC travel to Wigan with the two sides in very different runs of form. Here’s everything you need to know…
SQUAD NEWS
Wigan Warriors
Wigan head coach Shaun Wane has been forced to make two changes to the side that beat Huddersfield in round six. Tommy Leuluai is out with a groin injury and Oliver Partrington sits out due to a one-match suspension.
To replace them,ย youngsters Callum Field and Craig Mullen come into the 19-man squad and could make their first appearances in this season’s Super 8s.
Wigan 19-man squad: Bateman, Clubb, Davies, Escare, Field, Flower, Gildart, Greenwood, Hamlin, Manfredi, Mullen, Navarrete, Powell, Sarginson, Sutton, Tautai, Tomkins, Williams, Woods.
Hull FC
Hull FC have been hit with two more injuries ahead of their last game of the season.ย Dean Hadley and Hakim Miloudi are both out, with a head and hip injury respectively, and are replaced by Cameron Scott and Jack Downs.
However, Scott and Jordan Lane are both are doubtful with minor injuries despite being named in the squad.
Hull FC 19-man squad: Shaul, Faraimo, Tuimavave, Griffin, Talanoa, Taylor, Houghton, Connor, Abdull, Washbrook, Fash, Litten, Paea, Lane, Downs, Matongo, Scott, Harris, Bienek.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Wigan come into this game on the back of seven straight victories as opposed to Hull FC, who have lost the last ten.
The two sides first met in 2018 in Wollongong in the first Super League gameย to be played outside of Europe. The Warriors won 24-10 after a sold second half performance.
The teams next met in mid-June for the return fixture with Wigan again ending up victorious with a 14-10 victory, at the time making them the first team to win at the KCOM in 2018. A Bureta Faraimo double for the Black and Whites couldn’t quite match the Warriors in the second half during storm-like conditions.
KEY BATTLE – Sam Tomkins/Morgan Escare vs Jamie Shaul
A little unfair to have one player against two but Wigan often change their line-up at full-back. Last weekend, Escare got the nod with Tomkins settling in the halves but it could be the other way round on Friday.
Shaul has not had his best season and will need to bring out a performance to cement his Hull FC place as well as to beat either of these two.
On the other hand, Escare has had a great season with the Warriors and will hope to make a claim for Zak Hardaker’s spot should he join the club. Tomkins will be hoping for one last swansong with Wigan before he joins Catalans and that will include a trip to Old Trafford.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday 28th September
Venue: DW Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Referee: Liam Moore
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