Wane names Magic Squad

[josie andrews]

Greg Burke and Matt Bowen return to Wigan squad for the Magic weekend but the Champions are still without a host of players for thier Magic Weekend Clash with Leeds.

Second row Burke is fit again after sustaining a shoulder injury playing on loan for Bradford Bulls in March and fullback Bowen is back after missing last weeks win over Hull FC.

However, Shaun Wane is missing Tony Clubb after damaging knee ligaments , and Jordan James and Gil Dudson who both picked up knocks in the trip to Humberside last Friday. Shaun O'Loughlin and Liam Farrell are unable to shake off respective groin and ankle injuries, so nineteen year old prop Ben Austin comes into the squad as cover for the forwards.

Wigan Warriors 19-Man Squad

Ben Austin, John Bateman, Matt Bowen, Joe Burgess, Greg Burke, Dom Crosby, Connor Farrell, Anthony Gelling, Blake Green, Darrell Goulding, Jack Hughes, Dom Manfredi, Michael McIlorum, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Scott Taylor, George Williams

Referee - Ben Thaler


http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... MEtI3YX.99

[josie andrews]

Jordan James also added to the injury list - neck

[Kittwazzer]

I expected us to struggle last week so I'll say nowt!

[markill]

Wigan Warriors 19-Man Squad

Ben Austin, John Bateman, Matt Bowen, Joe Burgess, Greg Burke, Dom Crosby, Connor Farrell, Anthony Gelling, Blake Green, Darrell Goulding, Jack Hughes, Dom Manfredi, Michael McIlorum, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Scott Taylor, George Williams

Bowen
Sarginson, Goulding, Gelling, Burgess
Green, Smith
Taylor, McIlorum, Crosby
Hughes, Burke
Bateman

Sutton, Williams, Farrell, Powell
(with the potential to use Powell or Williams in a spell at LF)

Austin & Manfredi to miss out (unless he wants to us Gelling in pack & Sarg in centre, Manfredi on wing)

[AdamMac]

That's one hell of a young squad. The major concern for me is the lack of size in the middle, that's where we really came unstuck against Leeds at Headingley and we are in a weaker position this weekend.

If we compete in this game it'll be one hell of an effort. Still, I'll be there singing the lads on!

[Exiled Wiganer]

And wouldn't Hopkins be useful at a time like this?
Burke back is very handy, and Bowen will love the wide open spaces.
If we had one more prop we'd really stand a chance. As it is, it'll be one of Austin, Sutton or Farrell that needs to be able to hold their own. Which of them stands the best chance?

[Kittwazzer]

Saints beat Leeds with an under strength side. Some would say it was their best performance of the season!

[cpwigan]

Greg Burke will help if he is fit enough. Wane often talks about Micky Mac playing LF and Williams at hooker but I often think why not the other way.

[Wigan_forever1985]

So is Hopkins injured or out of favour?

Interestingly he signed up for twitte a few days back and his first tweet was about how he can't wait to rip it up for the warriors

[Wiganer Ted]

Trouble is this is for the "Tragic" weekend and we face Leeds. If that didn't exist and we faced next week's opponents, Salford, then I'd fancy our chances of a win.

Tragic is a stupid idea. 27th game is ridiculous!
Who decides who should play whom? The RFL?
Any worthwhile management would have either of two ways of sorting the fixtures.
1, A random draw as in the C Cup.
2, A defined structure which stands season in season out such as 1 v 2, 3 v 4, 5 v 6 and so on. The cut off date to be decided.

We need our players playing less games to be competitive Internationally, not more.
Come 2015, there will be three more League fixtures, then at the end of the season it's suggested a six game tour down under where each player selected will play three or four games.
Tragic needs to be done away with as well as having SL clubs enter the C Cup at the fourth round.