The fourth round of the Challenge Cup is upon us and four Super League clubs have revealed their squads ahead of Friday night’s ties.
At least one West Yorkshire outfit will be in the quarter-finals of the competition, with Leeds Rhinos taking on Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue this week.
The Rhinos are in impressive form and enter the contest on the back of beating Castleford Tigers on Sunday afternoon. Performances have been up and down for Wakefield since the start of the year but they’ll be looking to build some momentum this week after edging out Hull FC last week on home soil.
Bradford Bulls have more than caught the eye after stepping up to Super League this week and so far, after four rounds of league action, they have beaten both French clubs and pushed Hull and St Helens extremely close. They’ll fancy their chances of upsetting the odds at Wigan Warriors on Friday night then, especially with Wigan missing key men.
Matt Peet’s side are unbeaten and sit on top of the Super League table, but they know they have to overcome a very game Bulls outfit if they are to progress to the quarter-finals.
Here’s a look at the team news for both games.
Challenge Cup team news
Wakefield Trinity v Leeds Rhinos
Wakefield boss Daryl Powell has been boosted by the return of Tom Johnstone, who looked set to make his first appearance of the season this weekend. Johnstone picked up a knee injury in pre-season training, but he’s been deemed to be fit enough to be involved this week against the Rhinos.
There’s no Mason Lino, though, with the half-back yet to make his return from a hamstring injury, despite being named in the 21-man squad last week.
Leeds have also welcomed players back from injury, with Brodie Croft stepping in after missing last week with a hamstring problem and Mikolaj Oledzki being fit enough to be named in the squad after picking up an injury in the last round of the competition at Widnes Vikings.
Jack Bird looks set to make a debut, while James McDonnell has shaken off a back injury to be included in the squad.
Wakefield Trinity: Max Jowitt, Oliver Pratt, Cameron Scott, Corey Hall, Tom Johnstone, Jake Trueman, Mike McMeeken, Ky Rodwell, Seth Nikotemo, Matty Storton, Jazz Tevaga, Jay Pitts, Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Caius Faatili, Harvey Smith, Isaiah Vagana, Jack Sinfield, Jayden Myers, Josh Rourke, Tray Lolesio, Will Tate.
Leeds Rhinos: Lachie Miller, Maika Sivo, Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Ryan Hall, Brodie Croft, Jake Connor, Mikolaj Oledzki, Jarrod O’Connor, Tom Holroyd, Kallum Watkins, James McDonnell, Keenan Palasia, Chris Hankinson, Cooper Jenkins, Ethan O’Neill, Cameron Smith, Jeremiah Mata’utia, Danny Levi, George Brown, Jack Bird.
Wigan Warriors v Bradford Bulls
Peet has made just one change to his squad this week, with Bevan French being the man to drop out. The playmaker has a tear in his hamstring and looks set to miss the next four months of action.
That’s opened the door for Dayon Sambou to come in, but it remains to be seen who will play at full-back, with Noah Hodkinson and Zach Eckersley options.
Kurt Haggerty has named a 20-man squad for the Challenge Cup clash, with Guy Armitage one of those to come in after overcoming injury. There’s no Loghan Lewis or Elliot Peposhi, though, through suspension.
Wigan Warriors: Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Liam Marshall, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis, Sam Walters, Patrick Mago, Oliver Partington, Jack Farrimond, Sam Eseh, Tom Forber, Kian McDermott, Taylor Kerr, Nathan Lowe, Noah Hodkinson, Dayon Sambou.
Bradford Bulls: Andy Ackers, Caleb Aekins, Guy Armitage, Cameron Bate, Ed Chamberlain, Eribe Doro, Brandon Douglas, Zac Fulton, Jamie Gill, Sam Hallas, Luke Hooley, Alfie Leake, Esan Marsters, Joe Mellor, Rowan Milnes, Leon Ruan, Ethan Ryan, Mitch Souter, Ryan Sutton, Connor Wynne.
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