Wigan Warriors recruitment update as injury crisis worsens
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2021 11:05 am
The Warriors have been constantly on the lookout for players.
Wigan Warriors head coach Adrian Lam will continue to scour the market for potential additions to a squad currently down to its bare bones.
Lam’s side was missing at least 10 players during last week’s defeat at Wakefield Trinity through injury, suspension and international call-ups.
Bevan French has returned home to Australia and will not play again this season due to a serious hamstring injury, while Jai Field is another long-term absentee.
With John Bateman (ankle) and Zak Hardaker (neck) joining the casualty list, Lam will again be forced to field a number of youngsters during Wednesday’s crunch home clash with Warrington Wolves.
Asked about recruitment mid-season, Lam said: “It's happening right across Super League - clubs looking to see where they can top up here and there - and we're certainly doing that as well.
“It just needs to be the right person and the right position I guess, so you can never say never.
We're obviously in a bit of a pickle at the moment, but we've just got to stick together and keep powering on.
“I'm sure a lot of clubs are in the same situation with the England game that went ahead last week.
We were down to our bare bones, so we just need to manage the process of the players who are coming off contract - players who are in negotiations and players who are leaving.
“That includes staff as well and all of it is part of a big bundle we have got to manage through this June/July part of the season.”
Wigan’s plans to recruit and retain players is complicated by the fact that Lam’s own future remains shrouded in huge uncertainty.
He added: “Obviously I'm only contracted until the end of the year.
As I have mentioned before, it's a difficult time of the season for every Super League club and for ours in particular at the moment.
“We have a lot of players we have to sort through and I'll get through that process.
“At the end of that, I'll sit down with the club at the back end of July, I would presume.”
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... m-20925999
Wigan Warriors head coach Adrian Lam will continue to scour the market for potential additions to a squad currently down to its bare bones.
Lam’s side was missing at least 10 players during last week’s defeat at Wakefield Trinity through injury, suspension and international call-ups.
Bevan French has returned home to Australia and will not play again this season due to a serious hamstring injury, while Jai Field is another long-term absentee.
With John Bateman (ankle) and Zak Hardaker (neck) joining the casualty list, Lam will again be forced to field a number of youngsters during Wednesday’s crunch home clash with Warrington Wolves.
Asked about recruitment mid-season, Lam said: “It's happening right across Super League - clubs looking to see where they can top up here and there - and we're certainly doing that as well.
“It just needs to be the right person and the right position I guess, so you can never say never.
We're obviously in a bit of a pickle at the moment, but we've just got to stick together and keep powering on.
“I'm sure a lot of clubs are in the same situation with the England game that went ahead last week.
We were down to our bare bones, so we just need to manage the process of the players who are coming off contract - players who are in negotiations and players who are leaving.
“That includes staff as well and all of it is part of a big bundle we have got to manage through this June/July part of the season.”
Wigan’s plans to recruit and retain players is complicated by the fact that Lam’s own future remains shrouded in huge uncertainty.
He added: “Obviously I'm only contracted until the end of the year.
As I have mentioned before, it's a difficult time of the season for every Super League club and for ours in particular at the moment.
“We have a lot of players we have to sort through and I'll get through that process.
“At the end of that, I'll sit down with the club at the back end of July, I would presume.”
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... m-20925999