SL Preview: Huddersfield v Wigan
High-flying Huddersfield welcome last season’s minor premiers Wigan to the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday.
The Giants have recorded two comfortable victories in Super League so far this season, while the Warriors followed up the 42-0 thrashing of Salford with last Friday’s 17-17 draw with Warrington.
Wigan Head Coach Shaun Wane said: “We face another challenge this weekend against Huddersfield who have obviously gone big through the middle, like Warrington they have some really big players who run hard, we are expecting a really physical game.
“It is obvious which way Paul Anderson has gone with his recruitment and this is a real challenge and we need to compete for 80 minutes, I have the players to do it and if we defend with the type of desire we showed last weekend we will be OK.
“I am expecting a really tight game and a bit of an arm wrestle and these are the type of games I want us to play in, it is great for Super League.”
Huddersfield are set to replace winger Luke George with Aaron Murphy, but the Warriors are likely to be unchanged, with youngster Greg Burke keeping fit again Epalahame Lauaki on the sidelines.
Huddersfield 19-man squad: Grix, Cudjoe, Wardle, McGillvary, Brough, Robinson, Crabtree, Lunt, Kopczak, Ferres, Faiumu, Patrick, Chan, Ta’ai, Murphy, Cording, Fairbank, Mullally, Fielden.
Wigan 19-man squad: Burke, Charnley, Crosby, Dudson, Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Goulding, Green, Hughes, McIlorum, Mossop, O’Loughlin, Powell, Richards, Smith, Taylor, Thornley, S Tomkins.
Prediction: Huddersfield’s pack to keep them rolling on – home win.
Stats:
Wigan have won on their last three visits to Huddersfield, with the Giants’ last home win against the Warriors coming 48-16 on 13 September, 2009.
Wigan’s Sam Tomkins has scored tries in the Warriors’ last three meetings with Huddersfield (3-1-1).
Super League summary:
Huddersfield won 10
Wigan won 21
Huddersfield highest score: 48-16 (H, 2009) (also widest margin)
Wigan highest score: 68-6 (H, 2000) (also widest margin)