Wigan Warriors' Jai Field talks dislocated fingers and Super League leaders' race Aussie full-back Jai Field ignored the

[josie andrews]

Aussie full-back Jai Field ignored the pain barrier to beat Catalans and now has Hull KR in his sights in top-of-the-table clash as he celebrates 27th birthday

Birthday boy Jai Field made scoring with a dislocated finger look easy but insists finishing top won’t be.

Super League champions Wigan host leaders Hull KR on Friday in a fascinating top-of-the-table clash with many people believing they will also meet in next month’s Grand Final. Currently holding all four major trophies, Warriors sit second but trail Rovers only on points difference with three rounds to go. It would be easy to say whoever wins tonight will secure pole position.

But Aussie full-back Field, who turns 27 today, insisted: “It’s probably a little too simple to say that. Some people will say it but there’s a lot of footy after this - two more games - so anything can happen.

“KR are playing a great brand of footy at the minute. They are flying. They’ve dusted everyone they’ve played the last month or two so it will be a good test for us to get out there and play against a good side.”

Seeking to finish top for the first time since 1985, Rovers are on an eight-match winning run and have made huge progress since being beaten in the Challenge Cup semi-final by Wigan.

Warriors, though, kept on course to retain the League Leaders’ Shield with Saturday’s hard-fought 26-18 victory against Catalans. Field scored his third try of the season in Perpignan - just moments after wincing in agony having a dislocated finger put back in place.

He recalled: “I dropped a kick, then one of their boys ran into me and it bent back that way. So I did that set of defence, then the physios had their best crack they could at getting it in before Doc managed it. A couple of minutes later, I just ran down and somehow got in the picture for the try. The finger’s more sore after the game. When you’ve finished it’s a little numb but when the adrenaline’s pumping it’s not too bad.”

The World Club champions welcome back England scrum-half Harry Smith from a three-game ban tonight while KR see ex-Wigan and England duo Joe Burgess and Oli Gildart plus James Batchelor return.

Field reckons the battle with last season’s Grand Final opponents Catalans will have his side ready for anything in the play-offs. He said: “You’d like to think so: playing tough, physical, grindy games and not having it all our own way.

“We had to scrap back against Catalans to get the win. There was a period when we went down to 12 again and they came back at us once more. They’re the sorts of games that do hold you in good stead for what’s around the corner for the back end of the year. Catalans was tricky - and KR will be another good test.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... n-33610065

[josie andrews]

Pundits surprisingly unanimous in Wigan Warriors and Hull KR predictions

Hull Live predicts how tonight's big game involving Wigan and Hull KR might go

Arindam Rej, Hull Live's Hull KR reporter
Hull Kingston Rovers' media duties this week included one moment that struck me in particular and highlights just how highly the current squad are rated going into tonight's top-of-the-table clash - and it came from Ryan Hall, vastly experienced in playing alongside top-class players and in big games. The former Leeds Rhinos winger was asked about how Rovers' current line-up has a lack of recognition, in comparison to Leeds' recent golden generation that he experienced - and he replied that there is a similar quality of player at KR these days. That is some statement, considering what the Rhinos achieved. Now it is down to Hull KR to turn that quality he sees into recognition and that will only happen if they can manage to get results in games like tonight - against an elite-looking Wigan Warriors squad who have swept the board with honours over the past year.

There are bookmakers who are seeing this as a potentially tight and low-scoring game in which Wigan will prevail. Considering that these are two teams who generally exhibit high-quality defence that is possible. But I do not think it is beyond the realms of possibility that the scoreline could mount in favour of either side, depending on the circumstances, because they can both be hard to stop when they find momentum, and they both contain some of the finest attacking strike players in Super League.

Wigan is a ground that Rovers have suffered on a lot in recent years gone by - but we heard that sort of thing when they went to St Helens, with several people making the point to them, and they destroyed that theory. History cannot be read into too much because this feels like a different Hull KR. For example, Wigan have troubled Hull KR's right edge defence in the past and that is an area that is much improved now.

Rovers head coach Willie Peters has talked a lot about starts in recent months - that could be important again when these two meet. From the kick-off, with the incentives on offer and the physicality likely to be on show, this is set to be an epic night. Speaking to Wigan Today reporter Josh McAllister in the build-up to this game, he made the point that Wigan need to sharpen up their discipline and that could be a decisive aspect. Another important area could be goal-kicking for Rovers, which has been a weak point of late but not costly because the games have not been decided by thin margins. That is not the fault of Mikey Lewis, who is trying in the absence of an expert (which will be remedied by Rhyse Martin's arrival) but might need to be better tonight. A lot of eyes will be on the halves tonight, with Lewis and Tyrone May on one side, and Bevan French and Harry Smith set to be on the other, and - as Peters has said - the forwards' battle will be a critical factor in the final score.

Wigan are a formidable line-up and benchmark club and we have seen what many of their players are capable of on the big stage - with the World Club Challenge win being a stand-out example. As things stand now though, Rovers look a more settled side currently, with many key players performing well regularly, while Wigan have been unable to regularly field their best players together lately. Fluency between their spine players might be rusty still - although they are capable of clicking quickly in a worst case scenario - and that is a factor in why I have faith that Rovers' own qualities can come to the fore tonight. Prediction: Rovers by 4

Matthew Shaw - Rugby League Live Editor
I've already stated that I don't believe either of these teams will win their three remaining games - but I do think Hull KR will win this one. Two great teams are squaring off tonight, and the old fine margins cliché absolutely comes into play here. So why am I going with the Robins?

There are a few reasons. Many are to do with them and just how well they are playing, but I think there's a few things against the Warriors here. They were good against Catalans last week but that was a physically demanding game, a lot of players were out on their feet at the end. When you consider the travel challenges and the fact they've had 24 hours less turnaround between fixtures than Rovers, I think that is a factor. Also, Bevan French, key to their attack, showed a bit of rust, and with Harry Smith coming back in for the first time in three games - it will be the first time since the Challenge Cup Final that French, Field and Smith have all played together, and that could take some time to click, time they don't have here.

I feel like Rovers will come through this game and that will see them win the League Leaders' Shield. I'm not convinced they win next week against Leigh, but I think when you consider everything in play, they have a slight advantage heading into this game. It's brave tipping the Robins when you consider Wigan have taught them a lesson in previous big games. But they get the nod from me based on their current form and some of the obstacles Wigan need to overcome. I expect these teams to play again at Old Trafford in a month or so. Prediction: Rovers by 4.

Dan Tomlinson - Hull Daily Mail
Last time these two sides met, we all backed Hull KR to get the job done. It was the Challenge Cup semi-final and Wigan ended up hammering Rovers on route to another Wembley win. Last year, they also humbled the Robins in the Super League play-offs. Surely, that sort of outcome doesn’t happen again. The stakes aren’t as high this time, but make no mistake about it, this is a big game, with the League Leaders Shield on the line. That matters to Hull KR but it also matters to Wigan, who won’t want to taste defeat on their home ground to a top three rival again.

Wigan have most of their stars back, Jai Field has been easing himself back in, Bevan French too has returned, and Liam Farrell is in the squad. They have a star studded lineup, but the Robins are the team bang in form with the best player in the competition, Mikey Lewis, in their side. They’ve dispatched everyone in front of them in recent weeks and they’ve done it in style.

The only concern for Rovers is that they’re playing at such a high level and they have to sustain that level now for the next month. Wigan, meanwhile, are getting the job done at present with loads more to give. And while I’d still back Wigan to up through the gears and show the toughness required to win the Grand Final, it’s Rovers who I think will get the job done here. Prediction: Rovers by 8

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ns-9534011

[josie andrews]

Ironically that the people making these predictions are all from or based in Yorkshire!


You better prove them wrong Wigan Warriors!

#21 CC. ALL4

[Hattster]

Ironically that the people making these predictions are all from or based in Yorkshire!


You better prove them wrong Wigan Warriors!

#21 CC. ALL4

Mission accomplished

[widdenoldboy]

Ironically that the people making these predictions are all from or based in Yorkshire!


You better prove them wrong Wigan Warriors!

#21 CC. ALL4

Mission accomplished

Sent same message to my son in Crete!