Wigan Warriors host Catalans Dragons tonight with an array of injuries to get past, not least who will play full-back.
Matt Peet’s side lost Jai Field in their home defeat against Hull FC last week although there was initially confusion about the full-back’s situation.
Field went down after a shot and saw the medical team attend to him, however, he was cleared to play on but the referee showed a green card. That meant Field was forced off the pitch for two minutes and it seems that during that period, the doctors assessed again and eventually ruled that the Australian had failed a HIA.
Having lost Zach Eckersley earlier in the game to a lower leg injury, Adam Keighran was deployed at full-back with Kruise Leeming playing in the halves so the key question is who will play at full-back this week?
We’ve predicted how both Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons will line up for tonight’s clash/
Wigan Warriors predicted team
Reserve team player Noah Hodkinson is the most like for like replacement at full-back, on the assumption that Zach Eckersley doesn’t pass fit. Matt Peet explained mid-week that there was no break for Eckersley but that he had ‘severe bruising and soreness’.
He also talked up Hodkinson and his performances in the reserves so the youngster could get the gig. Young Jacob Douglas could also start on the wing over Christian Wade after his horror-show last week.
A key position is whether Jack Farrimond is fit enough to play. If he is then Adam Keighran would return to the centres and Harry Smith will have an established playing partner. If Farrimond isn’t fit then expect Keighran to continue in the halves with Wade potentially asked to play in the centres.
Tyler Dupree could start again at prop in the absence of Luke Thompson with the strong bench of Leeming, Hill, Mago and Byrne supporting.
Predicted Wigan Warriors XIII: Noah Hodkinson; Jacob Douglas, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Jack Farrimond, Harry Smith; Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Tyler Dupree; Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis
Interchanges: Kruise Leeming, Harvie Hill, Patrick Mago, Liam Byrne
📋 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀
Matt Peet has named his squad for Friday night’s Super League clash against Catalans Dragons!
Full squad news 👉 https://t.co/9CJp2f0Gjc#WWRL #SLWIGCAT pic.twitter.com/qBizHataMq
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) July 23, 2025
Catalans Dragons predicted team
It’s the first game that Joel Tomkins will take charge of after being officially appointed as head coach but he’s confirmed that the focus is still on winning games and not selecting for the future.
That means players such as Tevita Pangai Jr, confirmed to be going to Warrington, could still feature. Last week, the prop was deployed in the second-row and could go there again, although the return of Bayley Sironen might change that.
A number of outside backs remain out so Fouad Yaha could start again whilst young back Leo Darrelatour continues to make an impact.
Denive Balmforth saw his loan extended this week but he will likely start from the bench once again
Predicted Catalans Dragons XIII: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet; Fouad Yaha, Matthieu Laguerre, Leo Darrelatour, Tommy Makinson; Luke Keary, Cesar Rouge; Chris Satae, Alrix Da Costa, Romain Navarrete; Benjamin Garcia, Tevita Pangai Jr, Oliver Partington
Interchanges: Denive Balmforth, Tariq Sims, Bayley Sironen, Franck Maria
𝐋𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝟐𝟏 ⚔️
𝑃𝑟𝑒́𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒́ 𝑝𝑎𝑟 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑦𝑟𝑜𝑡 𝐴𝑢𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠
Le groupe des Dragons pour le déplacement sur le terrain de @WiganWarriorsRL.🇫🇷 https://t.co/EMTOAo0Bpj
🇬🇧 https://t.co/gIqcmeFvNf pic.twitter.com/hWo9CKd4TT— Dragons Catalans (@DragonsOfficiel) July 23, 2025
