Leigh Leopards are scheduled to play Warrington Wolves in the 5:30pm slot on Saturday and the Super League new boys have named their squad for the occasion.
Coming off the back of a win over Leeds Rhinos, Leigh will aim to finish pre-season on a high in what will be Ben Currie’s testimonial game.
Adrian Lam has named a strong team for the occasion and the current Man of Steel favourite in the betting, Edwin Ipape, is set to feature having missed the Headingley game.
Two players will debut including former Warrington captain Jack Hughes and winger Tom Briscoe.
Leigh display a backline that’s at full strength and features lots of new faces for the 2023 season with Hardaker behind wingers Briscoe and Charnley, whilst former Huddersfield star Ricky Leteule pairs with Ed Chamberlain.
Joe Mellor misses out but Lachlan Lam will potentially be joined by new recruit Gareth O’Brien in the halves, whilst the aforementioned Ipape completes the spine.
The pack features Hughes on his return to the Halliwell Jones whilst Tom Amone, Rob Mulhern and newly named skipper John Asiata fill out the pack and starting 13.
Adrian Lam has named a large bench and it’s one that features son of Ellery Hanley with young Umyla among the subs.
He’s joined by Ben Nakubuwai, Ben Reynolds, Oliver Holmes, Matt Davis, Aaron Smith, Jacob Jones, Tom Nisbet and Jacob Gannon.
Warrington had earlier named a strong squad themselves featuring six new signings with five among the starting 13.
The game will celebrate second-rower Ben Currie who is heading into his 12th season at Warrington with fans expected to pack into the Halliwell Jones to honour their long-serving player.
It will be the first chance that Wire fans get to see their team in action, despite being less than two weeks away from their actual Super League opener.
The decision to utilise warm weather training during the January freeze meant Currie’s testimonial will be one of just two pre-season friendlies, the second coming six days after this one, and six days before their clash with Leeds on opening night.
📋 Our first matchday squad of 2023!
Six of our new recruits will make their first appearances in @BenoCurrie's Testimonial this Saturday
— Warrington Wolves (@WarringtonRLFC) February 2, 2023
