
Wigan Warriors assistant coach Sean O’Loughlin has allayed any fears surrounding the fitness levels of Abbas Miski and Ethan Havard. The pair were left out of Sunday’s pre-season friendly clash with Leeds Rhinos on Sunday as the Warriors picked up some vital minutes before the start of the new Super League season.
Both players finished last season with injuries, with Miski struggling with a knee issue for periods of the campaign, while Havard damaged his shoulder while in action for England in the autumn.
As such, periods of pre-season have been missed by the pair, but O’Loughlin expects them to be ready to face Leigh Leopards in round one in just over two weeks’ time.
“It’s just injuries they’ve had going into pre-season,” O’Loughlin said when asked about the absences of Miski and Havard. “They’re working at getting fit and I don’t think either of them are worried going into the start of the season. It’s maybe just with what they’re carrying it’s a week too soon but they’re both ticking along alright and recovering from whatever they’ve had done.
“Abbas had to wait around a little longer after the Grand Final for his surgery so Matt gave him a little bit more time at home. He’s probably been back a week or two later than the other overseas boys but there’s no worry. He’s all set for the start of the season.”
Wigan saw Tom Forber and George Hirst leave the field at Headingley, too, with the latter being well enough to return to the action for the final few minutes.
“I’ve not had an update from the physios but I think they were both fingers in the eyes,” O’Loughlin added. “It was just coincidence that they both suffered the same thing. I think Forbs got poked in both eyes so he was struggling a little bit. No concerns there.”
Ultimately it was a tough day out for Wigan Warriors as they lost 22-4 in tricky West Yorkshire conditions, but the Cherry and Whites took what they needed from the contest.
“Physically you’re always happy,” the Wigan man, who was head coach for the day, added: “You want to win games but we know its not what pre-season games are about. You want to win them but that’s not necessarily the priority.
“The boys that came in around Christmas time, this was their first hit out so it’s probably physically just getting used to being bashed around and stretching the lungs out. When the weather is like it is and it’s not as flowing, the physicality steps up a bit and it did tonight. It wasn’t the most entertaining game but it ticked a lot of boxes from a physical side of things.”
