Season Preview: Wigan Warriors

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Head coach: Shaun Wane

Last season: 4th (Grand final winners)

In:

Sam Hopkins (Leigh)

Eddy Pettybourne (Wests Tigers)

Matthew Bowen (North Queensland)

Tony Clubb (London)

Dan Sarginson (London)

John Bateman (Bradford)

Jordan James (Unattached)

Out:

Lee Mossop (Parramatta)

Pat Richards (Wests Tigers)

Paul Prescott (Retired)

Gareth Hock (Salford)

Sam Tomkins (NZ Warriors)

Chris Tuson (Hull FC)

Liam Carberry (Widnes)

Tom Spencer (Leigh)

Harrison Hansen (Salford)

Rhodri Lloyd (Widnes)

Squad:

1 Matthew Bowen FULL BACK

2 Josh Charnley WINGER

3 Darrell Goulding CENTRE

4 Ian Thornley CENTRE

5 Anthony Gelling WINGER

6 Blake Green STAND OFF

7 Matty Smith SCRUM HALF

8 Scott Taylor PROP FORWARD

9 Michael McIlorum HOOKER

10 Ben Flower PROP FORWARD

12 Liam Farrell SECOND ROW

13 Sean O’Loughlin LOOSE FORWARD

14 Jack Hughes SECOND ROW

15 Logan Tomkins HOOKER

16 Gil Dudson PROP FORWARD

17 Dominic Crosby PROP FORWARD

19 Sam Powell SCRUM HALF

20 Greg Burke SECOND ROW

21 Andy Powell PROP FORWARD

22 Eddy Pettybourne SECOND ROW

23 Dan Sarginson STAND OFF

24 Tony Clubb LOOSE FORWARD

25 John Bateman SECOND ROW

26 Ryan Hampshire SCRUM HALF

27 George Williams SCRUM HALF

28 Jordan James PROP FORWARD

29 Sam Hopkins PROP FORWARD

31 Dominic Manfredi WINGER

32 Joe Burgess WINGER

34 Lewis Tierney FULL BACK

35 Rob Lever LOOSE FORWARD

36 Connor Farrell LOOSE FORWARD

37 Ryan Sutton PROP FORWARD

38 Ben Austin PROP FORWARD

39 Jack Murphy FULL BACK

James’ prediction:

3rd – Despite losing some key men in Tomkins, Richards, Mossop and Hansen, Wigan have shown time and time again that their production line of young talent can see them through. They have the experience of what it takes, and in Shaun Wane, have a coach who knows what it takes to make a Wigan team click.

View from the pitch:

Josh Charnley – “The new signings have gelled well, and combinations with the likes of Matty Bowen are looking good. We are being written off again, but in a way that helps, we are confident we can go all the way.”