Match Preview - Castleford v Wigan

[josie andrews]

Wigan head over the Pennines for the second time in just six days as they look to bounce back from defeat at Hull KR against winless Castleford.

Shaun Wane's side went down 22-20 on Sunday in East Hull and face a difficult challenge against a Cas side desperate to pick up their first points of the season.

The Tigers surprised many in 2014 as they finished fourth in the table and made the Challenge Cup Final however Daryl Powell's side are without a win in 2015 after narrow defeats to St Helens, Wakefield and Catalans.

Wigan hold a good advantage over Cas in the Super League era winning 27 times, drawing three and losing nine however the Tigers ran out victors twice last season. Luke Dorn's last-second try at The Jungle gave them a 36-31 win whilst the Yorkshire outfit also ran out 16-4 victors in the Challenge Cup Quarter Final at the DW in June.

Team news

Dan Sarginson returns for the Warriors following a deadleg whilst there is also a recall for Matty Bowen (rested). Dom Manfredi is named in the 19-man-squad and could be set to make his first appearance of the season. Lee Mossop retains his place in the squad, Dom Crosby misses out with a knee injury.

Luke Dorn returns for Castleford whilst James Clare, Steve Crossley and Ashley Gibson also come in with Scott Moore, Denny Solomona, Jordan Tansey and Michael Channing all missing out.

Squads

Wigan Warriors (from): Bateman, Bowen, Burgess, Charnley, Clubb, L Farrell, C Farrell, Gelling, Greenwood, Manfredi, McIlorum, Mossop, Patrick, Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Sutton, Tautai, J Tomkins, Williams.

Castleford Tigers (from): Dorn, Clare, Shenton, Carney, Roberts, Gale, Lynch, Milner, Millington, O. Holmes, Cook, Massey, Boyle, Moors, Wheeldon, Finn, McMeeken, Crossley, Gibson.

Last five meetings

13/06/2014 Wigan Warriors 46-6 Castleford Tigers, DW Stadium, 11,914

07/06/2014 Wigan Warriors 4-16 Castleford Tigers, DW Stadium, 8,736

09/03/2014 Castleford Tigers 36-31 Wigan Warriors, Mend-a-hose Jungle, 8,504

28/06/2013 Wigan Warriors 4-18 Castleford Tigers, DW Stadium, 12,463

03/03/2013 Castleford Tigers 22-28 Wigan Warriors, Wish Communications Stadium, 7,852

Form - Wigan Warriors (DWLL)

Thu 5 Feb Widnes Vikings (a) drew 22-22
Fri 13 Feb Huddersfield Giants (h) won 24-16
Sat 21 Feb Brisbane Broncos (h) lost 12-14

Sun 1 Mar Hull Kingston Rovers (a) lost 20-22

Form - Castleford Tigers (LLL)

Sun 8 Feb Wakefield Wildcats (h) lost 22-24

Sat 14 Feb Catalans Dragons (a) lost 12-13

Fri 20 Feb St Helens (a) lost 14-21

League positions (coming into the round)

Random stats

- Jordan Tansey has made 16 tackle busts this year (third highest) just one ahead of John Bateman on 15.

- With 42, Castleford have made more attacking kicks than any other team this year.

- The Tigers also top the error count with 42 in three games, Wigan have made 37.

- Anthony Gelling continues to lead the way with carries making 62 so far this season. Gelling has also made 431 metres, Justin Carney not far behind on 424.

- John Bateman has made 7 clean breaks this year one ahead of Justin Carney with 6.

Try scorers this season (SL only)

Wigan Castleford

Joel Tomkins 3 Justin Carney 4
Anthony Gelling 2 Denny Solomona 2
Joe Burgess 2 Jordan Tansey 2

Goals (SL only)

Matty Smith (Wigan) 5
Luke Gale (Castleford) 6

Tickets

Tickets are available on the gate costing £21 for adults, £13 for over 60s, £13 for students and £13 for Under 16s.


http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 2ctBS47.99

[chnwh]

Can see us losing again tonight if we are as ill disciplined as we were on Sunday

[sc74]

They'll be in our faces from the off.

[jobo]

They'll be in our faces from the off.

And we'll be in their faces but in a disciplined way I hope. Think we'll crush them.

[sc74]

If only