Wigan Warriors and Hull KR meet on Friday night in a game that could decide who tops Super League and the team news has now been confirmed.
We already knew that both teams would be missing key players with Hull KR playmaker Tyrone May banned for the game, whilst Wigan Warriors forward Junior Nsemba failed a HIA last week, thus ruling him out.
Questions of how to replace both men have been floated but the question on everybody’s lips is whether Bevan French will play or not.
The Australian was recalled to the 21-man squad to face Warrington Wolves last week but did not feature, however, his importance to Wigan in big games is undeniable.
It was his try last year that separated these sides in the Grand Final, stepping counterpart Mikey Lewis and racing away from 50 metres out to score the sole try of the game, earning Wigan a second straight Grand Final.
Wigan Warriors team news
There is a chance that he will do that at the Brick Community Stadium on Friday night because once again, French has been named to Wigan Warriors’ 21-man squad.
Matt Peet makes two changes to his squad with Junior Nsemba one of those to drop out along with Tom Forber. They’re replaced by returning winger Abbas Miski and young forward Harvey Makin, who was on loan at Salford last week.
It means that there is still no Luke Thompson, who is arguably the best prop in Super League but his continued absence means that the likes of Liam Byrne, Harvie Hill and Tyler Dupree could get more minutes.
Wigan Warriors 21-man squad: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis, Patrick Mago, Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill, Sam Walters, Zach Eckersley, Jack Farrimond, Jacob Douglas, Harvey Makin
📋 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀
Matt Peet has named his squad for Friday night’s Super League clash against Hull KR!
Full squad news 👉 https://t.co/EXYfBJsRdj#WWRL #SLWIGHKR pic.twitter.com/HgorIzyOEr
— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) August 13, 2025
Hull KR team news
Willie Peters spoke to the media on Tuesday to offer an update on the fitness of prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who had missed their most recent match due to a shoulder issue. Peters hoped that the Kiwi would be ‘good to go’, and he’s been named in the squad as such.
He also explained that Mikey Lewis and Sam Luckley would be okay and that pair are also named as Peters makes just one change, although it is a big one.
Micky McIlorum is out with loanee half-back Rowan Milnes in the squad, meaning Jez Litten will likely be the starting nine with Bill Leyland in support.
Hull KR 21-man squad: Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Rhyse Martin, Jack Broadbent, Kelepi Tanginoa, Jack Brown, Eribe Doro, Bill Leyland, Arthur Mourgue, Noah Booth, Rowan Milnes
Our travelling squad for Wigan 👊#UpTheRobins🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/O0cxMn2TZi
— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) August 13, 2025
