Wigan Warriors give two youngsters a chance in absence of star players

Wigan Warriors have named their squad that will travel to London on Saturday and there have been two major changes made by Matt Peet.

Only two changes have been made from the side that beat Huddersfield Giants, however, they are both key players with prop Liam Byrne and winger Liam Marshall replaced from last week’s 21-man squad.

Marshall had scored a hattrick in a Man of the Match performance against the Giants but Wigan Warriors will be without him for their trip to the capital.

Liam Byrne also misses out with the forward having carried heavy strapping on his knee during previous games and having left the field against the Giants with a bruised hip. The duo are replaced by young Junior Nsemba and Jacob Douglas.

Wigan Warriors confirmed the news via their website: “The Warriors head coach has made two changes to the 21-player squad he named for Wigan’s win over Huddersfield Giants last time out, as Liam Byrne and Liam Marshall drop out to be replaced by Junior Nsemba and Jacob Douglas.”

Wigan Warriors star returns to face old club

With Liam Marshall absent, all eyes will be on the other fantastic winger that Wigan Warriors have and that is Abbas Miski.

The Lebanese international topped the Super League try-scoring charts in 2023 and he now returns to his former club looking to open his tally this season.

Miski scored 29 last year and did score the opener in the World Club Challenge victory over Penrith Panthers.

During his time with London he scored 19 in 22 games and he’ll have the chance to star against them on Saturday as part of Matt Peet’s World Champion side.

Other selections for the game include Luke Thompson and young Tyler Dupree who will both be vying for starting forward spots in the absence of Liam Byrne.

As for the wing spot opposite Miski, it could well go to young Zach Eckersley or see Jake Wardle pushed onto the wing and captain Liam Farrell into the centres.

Wigan Warriors 21-Man Squad

1 – Jai Field
2 – Abbas Miski
3 – Adam Keighran
4 – Jake Wardle
6 – Bevan French
7 – Harry Smith
9 – Brad O’Neill
11 – Willie Isa
12 – Liam Farrell
13 – Kaide Ellis
15 – Patrick Mago
16 – Luke Thompson
19 – Tyler Dupree
20 – Harvie Hill
21 – Junior Nsemeba
23 – Ryan Hampshire
24 – Tiaki Chan
26 – Zach Eckersley
27 – Tom Forber
28 – Jacob Douglas
30 – Jack Farrimond

London Broncos 21-Man Squad

London Broncos have since named their squad which features new loan signing Reiss Butterworth who arrives from Hull KR, as well as loanee Fenton Rogers from Huddersfield Giants.

1:Alex Walker
2: Lee Kershaw
3: Jared Bassett
4: Hakim Miloudi
5: Iliess Macani
6: Jack Campagnolo
7: James Meadows
8: Rob Butler
9: Sam Davis
11: Will Lovell
15: Marcus Stock
16: Jordan Williams
17: Sadiq Adebiyi
19: Rhys Kennedy
20: Oli Leyland
21: Robbie Storey
22: Gideon Boafo
24: Matt Davis
29: Jacob Jones
30: Fenton Rogers
31: Reiss Butterworth