Team News: Wigan Warriors handed massive boost against depleted Tigers

The head coaches of Castleford Tigers and Wigan Warriors have named their 21-man squads ahead of their Super League clash on Friday.

After facing each other last week, where the Warriors won 60-6 at Wheldon Road, the two sides meet for the third time this season.

The Warriors don’t have many major injury problems, and once again go full-strength, as they’ll be attempting to continue their good run of form, as they could potentially finish the weekend at the summit of the table.

However, they are without Willie Isa, who suffered a major injury mid-way through the second half of last week’s tie.

Therefore, the one change to last week’s squad sees Isa replaced by Mike Cooper, who returns from injury.

They’re once again headed by the likes of Bevan French and Jake Wardle.

Craig Lingard, however, has more problems to deal with.

Castleford only managed to name a 19-man squad for the Challenge Cup tie, with almost half their squad currently injured.

Again, they’ve only been able to call on 19 players.

George Lawler, Luke Hooley, Muizz Mustapha and Jason Qareqare are some of their high-profile, long-term absentees.

They are also without Sylvester Namo for the next five games, after the decision at the Operational Rules Tribunal yesterday.

However, they’re able to call on new recruit Louis Senior, who could make his debut for the club, lining up with brother Innes.

Joe Westerman and Luis Johnson have dropped out of the squad, while Sam Hall and Liam Watts return.

Here are the two sides’ 21-man squads in full.

Wigan Warriors 21-man squad

1 – Jai Field
2 – Abbas Miski
3 – Adam Keighran
4 – Jake Wardle
5 – Liam Marshall
6 – Bevan French
7 – Harry Smith
9 – Brad O’Neill
12 – Liam Farrell
13 – Kaide Ellis
14 – Mike Cooper
15 – Patrick Mago
16 – Luke Thompson
17 – Kruise Leeming
19 – Tyler Dupree
20 – Harvie Hill
21 – Junior Nsemeba
23 – Ryan Hampshire
24 – Tiaki Chan
26 – Zach Eckersley
28 – Jacob Douglas

Castleford Tigers 19-man squad

3 – Jack Broadbent
4 – Sam Wood
5 – Innes Senior
6 – Danny Richardson
7 – Jacob Miller
8 – Liam Watts
11 – Elie El Zakhem
12 – Alex Mellor
14 – Liam Horne
16 – Rowan Milnes
18 – Josh Hodson
19 – Sam Hall
22 – Charbel Tasipale
24 – Cain Robb
25 – Brad Martin
26 – Samy Kibula
29 – George Hill
32 – Daniel Hindmarsh-Takyi
33 – Louis Senior