Warrington and Wigan announce squads for Challenge Cup final

Wigan Warriors and Warrrington Wolves are all set to face off in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley this weekend. Now, with two days to go until the big game, the two sides have named their 21-man squads for the game.

Neither coach is able to pick from their strongest side, with a number of injuries and suspensions impacting both sides. However, they will both be confident that the group of players they have available will be strong enough to compete.

Warrington return to close to full strength, having made a host of changes for the game against Wigan last weekend. The Warriors, on the other hand, bring back the handful of players that they did rest, but will be without the two key players who picked up a suspension in the warm-up game for the Challenge Cup final.

The stage of set for one of the biggest games in Rugby League.

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Wigan without Keighran and Dupree for Challenge Cup final

Wigan Warriors will go into the game without the suspended Adam Keighran and Tyler Dupree, however, they are able to name a strong side for the cup showdown. Jai Field, Jake Wardle, Liam Farrell and Luke Thompson all return having missed last week’s game, and young centre, Zak Eckersley, retains his place in the side. He is potentially in line to replace the suspended Keighran.

Ryan Hampshire retains his place in the 21-man squad, despite receiving criticism for his performance in last weekend’s game against Warrington. Winger, Liam Marshall, has brushed aside concerns about a knee injury sustained in the game to be named in Wigan’s 21-man squad. Marshall scored the winner the last time Wigan won the Challenge Cup.

In an official announcement from Wigan, the full 21-man squad is given:

Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Liam Byrne, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis, Mike Cooper, Patrick Mago, Luke Thompson, Kruise Leeming, Harvie Hill, Junior Nsemba, Sam Walters, Ryan Hampshire, Zach Eckersley, Jacob Douglas

Warrington Wolves name strong squad

Sam Burgess elected to rest players for last weekend’s game against Wigan, having made nine changes to the squad which beat Catalans Dragons in the south of France the week before. Burgess has reverted to the strongest squad available to him this week for the Wembley showpiece.

George Williams returns to the side from a one-match suspension and Jordy Crowther returns from injury. Matty Ashton,  Ben Currie, Matt Dufty, Kachlan Fitzgibbon, James Harrison, Toby King, Josh Thewlis, Paul Vaughan and Danny Walker all return after their rest the previous week.

Warrington’s long-term absentees Leon Hayes and Joe Philbin miss out, alongside Luke Thomas and Wesley Bruines. The club’s official announcement lists the full 21-man squad as follows:

Matty Ashton, Joe Bullock, Jordy Crowther, Ben Currie, Josh Drinkwater, Matt Dufty, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, James Harrison, Adam Holroyd, Toby King, Zane Musgrove, Matty Nicholson, Sam Powell, Stefan Ratchford, Rodrick Tai, Josh Thewlis, Paul Vaughan, Danny Walker, George Williams, Max Wood, Connor Wrench.