Coach Matt Peet has revealed why winger Abbas Miski won’t play first team rugby for Wigan Warriors this year.
Miski will feature for Wigan’s reserves today (Saturday) and – speaking after Friday’s 24-4 win against Leeds Rhinos – Peet revealed the Australian-born Lebanon international is set for a loan move away from the club.
“The fact is, he won’t play first-team for Wigan this year,” Peet revealed. “We decided some time ago not to use him on our salary cap and allocate funds elsewhere.
“The plan for Abbas is to play in the reserves and we’re going to loan him out in the coming weeks, but it has more been about letting Abbas recover from that bad injury – he tore his hamstring.
“He has trained hard with the physios and it’s just about getting him back playing and enjoying his rugby.”
Miski has struggled with knee problems during his career, but Peet said that issue is “completely unrelated”.
He added: “The knees are something that has troubled him in the past and then he got himself back in contention for [last year’s] Grand Final and unfortunately had a bit of bad luck and tore his hamstring.
“There’s no doubting his commitment to get himself back and he was very brave for us last year at the back end of the season, but he has trained very hard and got himself in great shape.”
Wigan Warriors considering rotation ahead of Challenge Cup Final
With the Challenge Cup final just two weeks away, Wigan have a couple of injury concerns following Friday’s game.
Substitute prop Sam Eseh limped off and Peet said: “He said he just hyperextended his knee when I spoke to him, but that was his opinion, not the physios. I’ll find out more on that [in the coming days].”
Veteran back-rower Liam Farrell didn’t play against Leeds and Peet explained: “He wasn’t rested; he had a tight calf, so it just made sense. He’ll be okay.”
Wigan meet Wembley opponents Hull KR in Super League next weekend. Asked if he will rotate his squad for the Cup final dress rehearsal, Peet stated: “I’ve had this challenge before and I think it’s very much player by player.
“Some lads, maybe it’s disciplinary points, maybe it’s a niggle or maybe it’s a range of things, but it will be done with the intention of getting a performance, but also being intelligent around the individuals.”
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