Warrington Wolves travel to the Mobile Rocket Stadium hoping to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Castleford and in-turn try and reduce the 10-point gap between themselves and league leaders St Helens. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the clash.
SQUAD NEWS
Wakefield Trinity
Chris Chester makes just one change to his 19-man squad following last Thursday’s 32-16 win over out-of-sorts Wigan Warriors.
James Batchelor has picked up a slight niggle and isn’t risked for the clash, with second-rower Chris Annakin coming in to take his spot.
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Wakefield Trinity 19-man squad:ย Annakin, Arona, Ashurst, Caton-Brown, England, Fifita, Hampshire, Hirst, Horo, Johnstone, Jones-Bishop, Jowitt, Kirmond, Lyne, Miller, Pauli, Randell, Tupou, Wood.
Warrington Wolves
Like his Yorkshire counterpart, Steve Price makes just one alteration to his Warrington side ahead of Sunday’s clash.
George King misses out and is replaced in the 19 by Dom Crosby, who has not featured for the Wolves since mid-April, thanks to a combination of injury and the good form of other forwards in the side since his return to fitness.
Warrington Wolves 19-man squad: Akauola, Atkins, K Brown, M Brown, Charnley, Clark, Cooper, Crosby, Goodwin, Hill, Hughes, Lineham, Livett, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, Ratchford, Roberts, Westwood.
HEAD TO HEAD
Warrington have a good record against today’s hosts, having won four out of the last five meetings, include a 34-24 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in the first half of the season.
However, Wakefield recorded a comprehensive 26-12 victory over the Wolves last July, further denting their chances of finishing outside of the bottom four.
Fast forward 12 months and the Wolves are now competing at the opposite end of the table, having produced a fine string of results over the past three months. Nevertheless, Trinity are not in sixth place by fluke, and will be intent on inflicting back-to-back victories on price and co.
KEY BATTLE- Ben Jones-Bishop vs Josh Charnley
Jones-Bishop and Charnley have been two of the most prolific outside backs in the competition over the course of 2018 so far.
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Jones-Bishop notched twice against the Warriors last week to take his tally to 12 tries in 15 games in all competitions. Charnley also bagged a brace last weekend, albeit in vein as the Castleford Tigers went on to secure victory. Nevertheless, the Wolves winger has arrived back in Super League with a bang and has secured 16 tries in just 12 games since his return.
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Both men possess impressive poise and agility which really comes to fruition when either is within touching distance of the try-line. If either set of defences give either of these two wingers an opportunity, they will not require a second invitation.
In a high-pressure game where sides near the top are battling for two crucial competition points, players need to be calm and level-headed when given an opportunity to grab four points; these two Super League stars will be exactly that.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date:ย Sunday June 17, 2018
Venue:ย Mobile Rocket Stadium
Kick-off:ย 15.00
Referee:ย C. Kendall
WHO WILL WIN?
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