Wigan v Huddersfield: Predicted line-ups and late injury news

Two of the competition’s out of form sides do battle this afternoon as they look to turn their seasons around. Both Wigan and Huddersfield were tipped for big things in 2021 but recent bad runs and injuries have led them down the league. Both desperately need a win today.

The Warriors’ problems have now expanded from the backs into the forwards. Not only will Jackson Hastings be forced to continue at fullback but youngster Umyla Hanley will once again be asked to take over on the wing due to Willie Isa’s absence through suspension. Ethan Havard has also been handed a ban leaving Wigan short in the pack especially due to the injury absence of Oliver Partington, Morgan Smithies and John Bateman. Brad Singleton may be asked to move to loose-forward – a position he played against the Warriors back in 2015 as Leeds won the Grand Final. Tony Clubb returns from suspension to ameliorate the Warriors’ problems somewhat.

But if you think Wigan have problems, then goodness knows what you must think of Huddersfield’s plight. The Giants are without all their senior halves and hookers with Lee Gaskell, Jack Cogger, Aidan Sezer, James Cunningham and Adam O’Brien all injured. Ashton Goulding will subsequently remain at nine. But Huddersfield’s injuries aren’t localised to the spine. In fact, such is the extent of their injury crisis, they were only originally able to name a 16-man squad for this game. However, the arrival of loan signings Nathaniel Peteru and Nathan Peats has perhaps ameliorated their injury problems a touch and the pair have now been included in the squad for today. I expect both to feature.

Wigan
31 Jackson Hastings
30 Umyla Hanley
22 Jake Bibby
4 Oliver Gildart
5 Liam Marshall
20 Harry Smith
7 Thomas Leuluai
19 Liam Byrne
9 Sam Powell
10 Joe Bullock
12 Liam Farrell
27 Kai Pearce-Paul
8 Brad Singleton
Substitutes
17 Tony Clubb
23 Mitch Clark
25 Joe Shorrocks
34 Brad O’Neill

Huddersfield
31 Olly Ashall-Bolt
2 Jermaine McGillvary
4 Ricky Leutele
3 Jake Wardle
21 Leroy Cudjoe
27 Sam Wood
23 Oliver Russell
22 James Gavet
1 Ashton Goulding
8 Luke Yates
17 Chris McQueen
13 Josh Jones
15 Joe Greenwood
Substitutes
34 Nathaniel Peteru
26 Sam Hewitt
32 Will Pryce
33 Nathan Peats