Farrell: Wigan still capable despite injuries

James Gordon

Wigan back-rower Liam Farrell may find himself playing at half-back – but says the Warriors can still put a capable team on the field despite their injury list.

The Warriors’ injury worries have been well documented this season, with a full 17 first-teamers not available on some occasions.

Their last match – a Challenge Cup win over Swinton – saw Farrell’s fellow back-rower Joel Tomkins line-up in the halves following the late withdrawal of England stand-off George Williams.

Speaking at the Magic Weekend media launch at St James’ Park, Farrell, said: “It was a bit of a toss up between me and Joel! So we’re doing it a bit tough, but we still have a team that’s out there which is very capable.

“We’re still just a place off the top four, if we knock off a few more results and get some more points, we’ll be right back up there.

“We’ll get a few bodies back in the next few weeks, and we’ll give ourselves a really good chance.”

Wigan boast a better record than any at Magic Weekend, having won seven and drawn one of their previous 10 games at the event.

Standing in their way of improving that record is a Warrington team, themselves rejuvenated after a run of wins that has lifted them back into top eight contention.

Farrell added: “We like to think we rise to the big occasions and we’ve got players who like to play in them.

“The players buzz off these kinds of environments, like Magic Weekend, and hopefully there’ll be 40,000 watching us so we’ll make sure the game is intense.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been to a Magic Weekend where we’ve had an easy game. There’s not many easy games knocking about in Super League, but we’ve played Leeds, St Helens and now Warrington.

“It’s going to be an interesting one. Warrington have got better week in, week out and we know what we’re expecting from them and it’s going to be a tough one.”