Dom Manfredi injury blow - what are Wigan Warriors' wing options?

[josie andrews]

Dom Manfredi will miss the start of the season, Adrian Lam has confirmed.

He told Wigantoday the winger's thumb injury, which he suffered in training, will sideline him for up to a month.

He missed Sunday’s friendly at Salford and afterwards, coach Lam said he was due to be checked the following day.

Having been assessed, Wigan are expected to be without him for "three or four weeks".

He told Wigantoday the winger's thumb injury, which he suffered in training, will sideline him for up to a month.

He missed Sunday’s friendly at Salford and afterwards, coach Lam said he was due to be checked the following day.

Having been assessed, Wigan are expected to be without him for "three or four weeks".

He will sit out their opening Super League game, against Leigh on March 26, in Leeds.

Wigan face Wakefield the following Thursday and then enter the Challenge Cup competition the week later.

His absence means the Warriors will head into the new campaign missing their two first-choice wingers, as Liam Marshall is out until the summer with a knee injury which ended his season last year.

And with Joe Burgess moving to Salford in the off-season – and Chris Hankinson going on loan to London – it leaves Lam short of wing options.

The situation isn't helped by uncertainty over Jai Field and Oliver Gildart, with Lam rating both of them as "50-50" for the opening day as they nurse back and groin injuries respectively.

Unless they urgently recruit, Jake Bibby and Zak Hardaker could be the only senior backs available.

But youngsters Sam Halsall and Umyla Hanley have both completed their second pre-season since being promoted to the first-team, and can play on the wing. Lam also has a full contingent of forwards and some of them - such as Willie Isa, John Bateman and young James O'Donnell - have played at centre before.

Manfredi, 27, missed the end of last season because of a minor knee injury and has spoken recently about hoping luck is on his side this year after three serious injuries stalled his career and left him contemplating retiring.

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... ns-3168521

[jackthelad]

Cant believe the bad luck this lad is having. Understand Injuries are part and parcel of the game...No answer to the solution either

[Southern Softy]

At least no one can accuse us of being over-organised. It's really a bit of a mess. I don't suppose John Bateman will be over-enthusiastic to be dumped into the centres again, although it would help the defence (trying to look on the bright side.)

[Barney841]

Think Wigan should contemplate letting Dom go soon if these injuries continue.
They’ve stood by him long enough and the strains of the salary cap it might be time to cut their losses

[Wiganer Ted]

Time to bring Hankinson back from his loan spell.

[CheshireWarrior]

Might have no option but to throw Hanley on the wing.

I personally think Bibby is more of a centre than wing, atleast he is versatile though.

I think lots of us have had doubts over our strength in depth with wing this year (even with a fully fit Dom and Liam).

[Caboosegg]

Think Wigan should contemplate letting Dom go soon if these injuries continue.
They’ve stood by him long enough and the strains of the salary cap it might be time to cut their losses

If it was another leg injury i would agree but its not, hes damaged his hand which happens to alot of players.

And imagine if saints had let Lomax go after his years of bad injuries.....

[Wigan_forever1985]

Its no real issue - one of the young lads can have a go - best time to blood them in is at the start of the season when the stakes are lowest, if this was a few days before the grand final then maybe it would warrant some attention but outside of the back row and prop its probably the least impactful place to have an injury

[Barney841]

Think Wigan should contemplate letting Dom go soon if these injuries continue.
They’ve stood by him long enough and the strains of the salary cap it might be time to cut their losses

If it was another leg injury i would agree but its not, hes damaged his hand which happens to alot of players.

And imagine if saints had let Lomax go after his years of bad injuries.....

Yeah I know what you mean. But still he has missed a hell of a lot of games through injury.
He’s had some real bad luck, it is a shame

[Firestarter]

He was the best winger in super league before his first injury...... his ability to leap and catch was second to none....... great all round winger....... be like a new signing if he did ever get fully fit and injury free