Super League is back underway and we kick off round 17 with Wakefield Trinity hosting Wigan Warriors. Wakefield had last weekend off after failing to make the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, while Wigan lost to Warrington. Who can kick-start their league campaign as we get close to the Super 8s?
SQUAD NEWS
WAKEFIELD
Wakefield coach Chris Chester has made just the one change to the 19-man squad who beat Widnes in Super League two weeks ago. Chris Annakin drops out with Matty Ashurst replacing him.
Wakefield 19-man squad:ย Arona, Ashurst, Batchelor, Caton-Brown, England, Fifita, Hampshire, Hirst, Horo, Johnstone, Jones-Bishop, Jowitt, Kirmond, Lyne, Miller, Pauli, Randell, Tupou, Wood.
WIGAN
Wigan coach Shaun Wane has made two changes to his side that lost to 23-0 to Warrington in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup last Saturday. Joel Tomkins has been dropped for the next four weesk after his video misdemeanour controversy.
Ryan Sutton suffered a knee injury in the Cup defeat which is still being assessed. Dan Sarginson and Gabe Hamlin return to take their spots in the 19.
Wigan 19-man squad:ย Bateman, Clubb, Davies, Escare, Farrell, Flower, Gildart, Hamlin, Isa, Leuluai, Marshall, Navarette, O’Loughlin, Powell, Sarginson, Tautai, S Tomkins, Williams, Woods.
HEAD TO HEAD
Wakefield’s 100% win rate in 2018 was ruined by a confident Wigan side back in March. The Warriors beat Trinity 30-18 after a Joe Burgess hat-trick helped them to claim victory.
Wigan have lost their last two games, with a Cup defeat last weekend and a league loss Hull KR the week before in Super League. Wakefield will be well rested after having last weekend off after they were knocked out in the sixth round of the Cup after losing to Huddersfield.
KEY BATTLE- Matty Ashurst vs Liam Farrell
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It’s a battle of the second-rowers this week as Matty Ashurst faces off against Liam Farrell. A seasoned England international in Farrell will play against Ashurst, who many people believed should’ve been in the England World Cup squad last year.
Both are typical English forwards: no-nonsense, reliable forwards who are always one of the first names on the teamsheet.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Thursday 7th June 2018
Venue: Mobile Rocket Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Referee: James Child
WHO WILL WIN?
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