Tonight, Wakefield host Wigan who’ve had a rough couple of weeks recently. Last year’s table-toppers lost last time out to Hull KR and are struggling to find a formula at fullback with Bevan French injured and Zak Hardaker suspended leaving Wakefield with a real chance of claiming the two competition points.
The big question for Wakefield is will Castleford-bound star Joe Westerman play? The loose forward has been named in the England squad for Friday’s international yet also finds himself in the Wakefield squad. His presence would give Wakefield a further boost. However, Reece Lyne won’t feature after he was named in the Shaun Wane’s 19-man squad but the return of Innes Senior could ameliorate the damage of his absence. It’ll be interesting to see how Trinity cope without Kelepi Tanginoa. With him out of the side, David Fifita could be trusted with the starting jersey.
Wigan’s plight has been worsened by the absence of their international stars such as talisman Jackson Hastings. Last time out he filled the void at fullback so his absence creates further problems meaning Umyla Hanley may get a shot in his favoured fullback role. Harry Smith will be given another chance to impress in the halves whilst Brad O’Neill could come into the side having impressed on loan at Widnes.
Wakefield
1 Max Jowitt
5 Liam Kay
20 Joe Arundel
27 Lee Kershaw
2 Tom Johnstone
6 Jacob Miller
7 Mason Lino
8 David Fifita
9 Kyle Wood
10 Tinirau Arona
11 Matty Ashurst
16 James Batchelor
14 Jay Pitts
Substitutes
15 Eddie Battye
19 Jordy Crowther
25 Brad Walker
26 Yusuf Aydin
Wigan
30 Umyla Hanley
2 Dom Manfredi
22 Jake Bibby
4 Oliver Gildart
5 Liam Marshall
20 Harry Smith
7 Thomas Leuluai
10 Joe Bullock
9 Sam Powell
19 Liam Byrne
11 Willie Isa
15 Morgan Smithies
14 Oliver Partington
Substitutes
21 Ethan Havard
25 Joe Shorrocks
27 Kai Pearce-Paul
34 Brad O’Neill
