Wigan Warriors and Hull FC will go head to head this evening with a spot in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup on the line. The Warriors are the holders of the Cup and they’re the favourites to win the competition once more in 2025, with Matt Peet’s side already starting to find form this season.
Hull have a rich history of success in the competition, too, but those successive wins in 2016 and 2017 feel a long time ago now. As such, John Cartwright’s side will be doing all they can to get the Black and Whites back to Wembley this season, but to do so they must overcome the Warriors tonight at the Brick Community Stadium.
Both head coaches have made changes to their 21-man squads and here’s how we think they might line-up.
Matt Peet isn’t one to make unnecessary changes and that consistency in selection certainly helps when it comes to predicting how the Cherry and Whites might look tonight. With no Abbas Miski it seems as though Zach Eckersley will get the nod on the right wing and the youngster certainly made the most of his opportunity last week grabbing a try and an assist against Huddersfield Giants.
Expect the rest of the starting line-up to look the same as the one that featured against Huddersfield, but there could be at least one change made on the bench.
Patrick Mago missed the last game through illness and that opened the door for Harvie Hill to come onto the bench. That selection could be reversed this week with Mago named in the 21-man squad.
Hull have welcomed Zak Hardaker back into the fold to face his old side this week, with the centre making just one appearance for the club this season due to injury. If he’s fit enough, he’ll start in the outside backs and that could force a reshuffle that sees Jordan Rapana moved back to full-back and Logan Moy miss out completely.
Yusuf Aydin misses out through injury and that opens the door for Jack Ashworth to start in the front row against the Warriors and with Liam Watts cup tied and representing the reserves this week, he’ll be keen to make his mark.
The change in the pack opens up a spot on the bench which Hugo Salabio could be expected to fill.
Predicted Wigan Warriors line-up: Jai Field; Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Bevan French, Harry Smith; Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson; Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell; Kaide Ellis.
Bench: Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Sam Walters, Tom Forber.
Predicted Hull FC line-up: Jordan Rapana; Harvey Barron, Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker, Lewis Martin; Cade Cust, Aidan Sezer; Herman Ese’ese, Amir Bourouh, Jack Ashworth; Jed Cartwright, Jordan Lane; John Asiata.
Bench: Liam Knight, Hugo Salabio, Will Hutchinson, Brad Fash.
