Super League Injury Round-Up: Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves with concerns for Wembley

[josie andrews]

Super League Round Thirteen concluded earlier with Salford Red Devils running out emphatic winners over London Broncos and now all eyes turn to Wembley and the Challenge Cup Final where Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves will meet, however, both sides are carrying injury concerns.

It’s not just Wigan and Warrington who have had injury issues this week with several other sides picking up knocks and niggles but with Super League on hold next week for the Challenge Cup Final, it’s those Wigan and Wire injuries that are most pressing.

The head coaches for that game, Sam Burgess and Matt Peet, took different approaches with Burgess handing out four debuts and resting stars such as Matt Dufty, Matty Ashton, Paul Vaughan, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and more, with captain George Williams suspended too.

As for Wigan, Matt Peet saw fit to rest Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Liam Farrell and Jake Wardle, but such is the depth of Wigan’s squad that he still left out plenty of first-teamers. That’s a decision that he may regret now with Wigan looking certain to lose Adam Keighran to suspension after his red card, whilst Tyler Dupree could be in hot water for a possible headbutt.

Nevertheless, Wigan were able to pick up the two points as they edged Wire 19-18 and those crucial two points could well earn them a home playoff semi-final near the end of the season, but possible suspension, injury and the result on Saturday at Wembley will tell us what the cost was.

Friday’s games saw St Helens beat Catalans 24-12 whilst struggling Huddersfield got back to winning ways with a 24-18 win over Hull FC. FC’s city rivals Hull KR continued their impressive season as they dispatched of Leigh Leopards with a 12-0 win at a sold-out Craven Park.

Saturday’s game broadcast on BBC saw the pressure relieved from Rohan Smith as Leeds Rhinos got a derby win over Castleford Tigers, running out 32-6 winners at Headingley. Sunday’s action saw Salford Red Devils run away with a 34-4 win over London Broncos, kicking on after leading just 6-0 at halftime.

Whilst there might not be Super League games next week, there is a Challenge Cup Final to play and of course, injuries could stretch further into Round 14.

Liam Marshall is an injury concern for Wigan Warriors with a leg injury, however, Matt Peet has poured water on concerns that he will miss the Final but it will remain one to watch.

Another player who has been knocking on the door of a place at Wembley is Warrington’s young prop Max Wood but that could be put on ice after he picked up a rib injury during the game. Wood continued but it’s another knock that will be watched in the build-up to Wembley on Saturday.

Away from the Challenge Cup Final, Rohan Smith spoke about a concerning injury for Andy Ackers with the hooker revealed as having a delayed concussion that saw him ruled out of the game against Castleford Tigers. Luis Roberts was also a late pullout for that game.

Smith said: “We had no sort of thought of it until that phone call last night. It was a delayed sort of symptom from a knock last week.”

On Roberts, he added: “He’s been carrying a groin injury, sort of on and off for most of the year. He sort of only just made it into last week’s game.”

Other injuries came in the St Helens and Catalans clash with Konrad Hurrell seeing his ankle tucked underneath a tackle but once he again he played on.

Two men who couldn’t play on were Tariq Sims with a wrist injury and then Benjamin Garcia with a calf injury, two more names to add to Steve McNamara’s list of Super League injury issues.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/super-le ... ley-92626/