Wigan Warriors have been struck by another disappointing injury blow ahead of the new Super League season.
Wigan have already lost one of their most exciting signings to injury in the shape of former Leeds Rhinos prop Sam Walters who has broken his collar bone.
Now Matt Peet has confirmed that fellow new recruit from Wakefield Trinity Sam Eseh is out for 12 weeks due to a hamstring injury.
Peet said, via X: “He’s got a hamstring injury [picked up in the reserves game] and we’re looking at around 12-weeks. All we can do is support him now, similar to Sam Walters they work hard all through pre-season and then suffer setback early on.”
Wigan have Mike Cooper back in the squad after his ACL injury against St Helens last Easter.
Wigan Warriors star makes triumphant return
Leigh Leopards v Wigan Warriors Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 30/03/2023 – Rugby League – Betfred Super League – Leigh Leopards v Wigan Warriors – Leigh Sports Village, Leigh, England – Wigans Mike Cooper walks out on to the field.
Cooper and Abbas Miski both impressed in their return for the Warriors in a reserves clash against Huddersfield Giants.
It was an even start at Wigan Rugby Union Club as both sides came close to scoring in the opening stages, however, Wigan found the breakthrough after seven minutes when some lovely build-up play from Jack Farrimond saw the half-back break the line before offloading to Nathan Lowe who dived over. Farrimond converted to put Wigan 6-0 ahead.
Key tackles from Ryan Hampshire, Sam Eseh Jr and Tom Forber kept the Giants out before the Warriors added a second try through Eseh Jr when the forward burst through the line with pace and power to get over. Farrimond converted to make the score 12-0.
The Warriors continued to assert pressure and shortly after Forber was held up, Farrimond worked the ball wide to Miski who grounded in the right corner for his first try of the game to extend the Warriors’ lead to 16-0 after 19 minutes.
Hampshire’s kick down field forced an error from the visitors, and after Jacob Douglas and Kian McDermott almost broke through, the ball was worked wide to Miski who expertly weaved his way through a gap to score. Farrimond was successful in extending the lead with 25 minutes on the clock.
The Warriors added a fifth try before the break when, off the back of a penalty for a high tackle on Marshall, play was distributed to the right where Miski was able to complete his hat-trick. Despite an unsuccessful goal attempt, Wigan went into the break 26-0 ahead.
Wigan scored a sixth try four minutes after the restart when a loose ball resulted in Farrimond chasing multiple kicks. Despite the ball bouncing unkindly for the half-back, Finlay Irwin was in support to ground.
The Warriors were rewarded for their efforts when an inch-perfect looping pass from Hampshire set Douglas up to dive over in the corner, before an eighth try came quickly after when Tiaki Chan broke the line with a powerful carry before offloading to Hampshire who grounded next to the sticks. Farrimond was accurate with the kick to increase the lead to 40-0 on 55 minutes.
The Warriors were over again two minutes later when a lovely piece of play between Forber and Reagan Sumner released Farrimond who fantastically dummied his way over for Wigan’s ninth try in the left corner. Farrimond added the extras to make the score 46-0.
The dominance continued from the Warriors as a delicate kick over the top from Hampshire found Douglas in space on the wing who was able to run in unopposed for his second of the half. Farrimond was accurate from the tee to extend the lead.
The visitors scored their first points of the afternoon on 63 minutes when George Flanagan accelerated clear down the wing off the back of a scrum, before Beau Morrison reacted first to ground a grubber kick for Huddersfield’s second try shortly after. Leo Ward converted his second attempt to make the score 54-10 after 70 minutes.
The Warriors capitalised on Huddersfield errors to score twice in the final five minutes. First McDermott powered through after repeated pressure following a knock on, before Tom Ratchford dummied over from close range to wrap the game up. Farrimond slotted the conversions to bring the final score to 66-10.
