The first home Super League game of the Sam Burgess era takes place for Warrington Wolves tonight as they welcome Hull FC but the Wire have been dealt a major blow to George Williams.
Having kicked the season off with a loss in Perpignan there are already expectations on tonight against an injury-riddled Hull FC but Warrington have been hit with a major injury of their own.
England captain George Williams hasn’t been named in the matchday squad despite being named in the original 21-man squad with the club confirming that he has suffered an ankle injury.
It’s a massive blow for Burgess and Warrington as they’ll be without their chief playmaker and their leader with young Leon Hayes replacing Williams in the line-up.
In Williams’ absence, fellow England international Danny Walker will skipper the side with Stefan Ratchford 18th man.
Matt Dufty
Josh Thewlis
Toby King
Connor Wrench
Matty Ashton
Leon Hayes
Josh Drinkwater
James Harrison
Danny Walker
Paul Vaughan
Adam Holroyd
Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Ben Currie
Interchanges:
Joe Philbin
Zane Musgrove
Sam Powell
Max Wood
Hull FC team news against Warrington Wolves
As for Warrington Wolves’ opponents, Hull FC are also without their captain as Danny Houghton misses out due to a failed HIA sustained in the season opener against Hull KR.
Houghton is one of 13 senior players that Tony Smith is without due to either injury or suspension, with the three banned players being Franklin Pele (3 games), Herman Ese’ese (2 games) and Ligi Sao (1 game).
That has meant that FC are very light in the pack, particularly with Brad Fash injured too and Warrington Wolves could well get on top of them thanks to their own very dominant pack.
In Houghton’s absence one of FC’s new signings Nu Brown captains the side and also returns to his natural position of hooker, Tex Hoy joining Morgan Smith in the halves as the Black and Whites look to right the wrongs of last week.
Starting XIII:
31 – Jack Walker
25 – Harvey Barron
4 – Liam Sutcliffe
5 – Darnell McIntosh
26 – Lewis Martin
1 – Tex Hoy
19 – Morgan Smith
16 – Jack Ashworth
7 – Fa’amanu Brown ©
20 – Jack Brown
11 – Jayden Okunbor
24 – Nick Staveley
15 – Jordan Lane
Interchange:
21 – Will Gardiner
23 – Davy Litten
28 – Denive Balmforth
29 – Charlie Severs
