Wigan Warriors and York Knights are the first sides back in Super League action and they’ve both confirmed their 21-man squads for Thursday night’s game.
Both teams progressed from the fourth round of the Challenge Cup with Wigan coming through a home tie against Bradford on Friday night whilst York saw off Championship club Keighley Cougars on Saturday.
The pair have now been handed away quarter-final ties to Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR but they’ll have their eyes firmly fixed on Thursday night, with hosts Wigan looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
The Warriors have been tested though, both on the field and off it in terms of injuries, with star duo Jai Field (appendicitis) and Bevan French (hamstring) both ruled out.
York have fared better in terms of injuries but saw captain Liam Harris pull up with a hamstring injury on Saturday that’s set to rule him out for a ‘prolonged period’, per head coach Mark Applegarth.
Wigan Warriors team news
Matt Peet only made one change to his 21-man squad last week and that saw Bevan French drop out with Dayon Sambou brought in and afforded a chance off the bench, which he took when scoring late on.
It’s now the same 21 named to take on York meaning it could well be a very similar 17-man matchday squad with Noah Hodkinson having earned high praise for his senior debut at full-back.
Wigan Warriors 21-man squad: 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 Jr, Tom Forber, Kian McDermott, Taylor Kerr, Nathan Lowe, Noah Hodkinson, Dayon Sambou
York Knights team news
The Knights have only been able to name a 20-man squad but a number of changes have been made. Winger David Nofoaluma is loaned back in after being cup-tied for last week’s game, whilst Sam Cook also comes in on loan from Newcastle Thunder.
As mentioned above, Liam Harris drops out of the squad through injury with King Vuniyayawa also missing out. Sam Wood, who had gone to hospital due to an eye poke, is named.
York Knights 21-man squad: Toa Mata’afa, Ben Jones-Bishop, Sam Wood, Scott Galeano, Ata Hingano,, Jack Martin, Paul McShane, Paul Vaughan, Josh Griffin, Jesse Dee, Denive Balmforth, Xavier Va’a, Justin Sangare, Danny Richardson, Oli Field, Kieran Buchanan, Will Dagger, Nikau Williams, Sam Cook, David Nofoaluma
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