Matt Peet has addressed Wigan Warriors’ spine options as they prepare to play without both Bevan French and Jai Field.
The Warriors take on Bradford Bulls this weekend in the Challenge Cup and they will have to do it without two of their most influential players.
Jai Field missed last weekend’s clash with Toulouse Olympique after having his appendix removed earlier this month and he can expect to remain sidelined for the next three to five weeks. His loss came as a huge blow to Wigan, particularly given the way he had started the season.
French was moved to full-back in Field’s absence, but the Australian was taken off in the 73rd minute of Saturday’s game with a hamstring problem. Scans this week have revealed a tear and he is now looking at a recovery period of four months.
As such, Wigan will be without their first choice full-back and stand-off for the next few weeks at least as they bid to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign, but Peet has a number of options to mull over.
“We have a few,” Peet said per Wigan’s official website. “Noah’s [Hodkinson] been playing really well in the reserves, he’s earned his stripes.
“Dayon [Sambou] was excellent for Salford at the weekend, and Nathan [Lowe] impressed in the reserves against Leeds. If we went with an outside back it would potentially mean moving Zach [Eckersley] which we’ve done before.
On French’s injury, he added: “He’s a positive character. There was some frustration when chatting to him on the way home because he’s got himself into great shape and he felt there was good form ahead. Now he knows the time frame, and the schedule for his recovery, he can get his head down and focus on the present.
“It’s the nature of the Super League season which we enter knowing we’re going to get things like this along the way – it’s how well you can endure them. That’s why you put your squad together, why you have your academy, and we’ve got to turn this into a positive.
“We have a responsibility to perform whichever players are missing. The fact is you don’t get your best team every game, that’s the nature of the Super League season. It’s always a challenge, but it’s a welcomed one as here we take pride in our youngsters being ready to go.”
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