Wigan Warriors will be without Abbas Miski this evening as they host Leigh Leopards in the opening game of the Super League season.
The winger missed much of pre-season after undergoing surgery in the aftermath of the Grand Final and sat out of the club’s friendlies with Oldham and Leeds Rhinos, and the Challenge Cup win over Sheffield Eagles. He was named in the squad to take on the Leopards but his absence is enough to suggest he couldn’t quite prove his fitness in time.
As such, Zach Eckersley will keep his spot on the wing, with Jake Wardle and Liam Byrne coming into the the starting line up for the Cherry and Whites. Wigan are without Ethan Havard and Brad O’Neill through injury, but that was already known.
Edwin Ipape has won his race against time to be involved after a shoulder injury, but he’s only been deemed fit enough for a spot on the bench at the Brick Community Stadium. Much like Miski, Ipape is coming off the back of surgery and missed much of pre-season. His game time will be managed, it seems, but Josh Charnley is fit to start after shaking off an issue.
Four new signings start for Leigh, with David Armstrong, Tesi Niu, Isaac Liu and Ethan O’Neill getting the nod in a line-up that looks significantly different to the one that made the trip to Wigan in last season’s Super League play-offs. Alec Tuitavake will make his Super League debut off the bench.
Wigan Warriors: Jai Field; Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Bevan French, Harry Smith; Luke Thompson, Kruise Leeming, Liam Byrne; Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell; Kaide Ellis
Interchanges: Tom Forber, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill.
Leigh Leopards: David Armstrong; Keanan Brand, Tesi Niu, Umyla Hanley, Josh Charnley; Gareth O’Brien, Lachlan Lam; Owen Trout, Brad Dwyer, Robbie Mulhern; Frankie Halton, Ethan O’Neill; Isaac Liu
Bench: Jack Hughes, Edwin Ipape, Alec Tuitavake, Matt Davis.
