SL Preview: Warrington v Wigan

Correspondent

Warrington head into this game on the back of a hard-earned victory over Leigh in the Challenge Cup at the weekend, and it remains to be seen how that will affect them.

Wigan had a weekend off, having been knocked out of the Cup by Hull KR earlier in the campaign.

Wolves skipper Joel Monaghan is absent with a strained calf, while back rower James Laithwaite has a borken fibula and is also out. Ben Currie is suspended.

Sam Wilde could be in line for his Super League debut, while mercurial Scotland full-back Matty Russell is also fit again.

Shaun Wane’s squad is handed a real boost with the return to fitness of the inspirational Sean O’Loughlin, and charismatic centre Antony Gelling also comes back to the colours after injury.

John Bateman and Ryan Hampshire are left out, with prop Ryan Sutton returning to the Warriors squad.

Warrington (19-man squad): Asotasi, Atkins, Clark, Dwyer, Harrison, Hill, G King, Livett, Myler, O’Brien, Ormsby, Patton, Penny, Philbin, Ratchford, Russell, Sims, Westwood, Wilde.

Wigan (19-man squad):
Bowen, Burgess, Crosby, C Farrell, L Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Manfredi, McIlorum, Mossop, O’Loughlin, Patrick, Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Sutton, Tautai, J Tomkins, Williams.

Stats:

Joel Monaghan has scored tries in Warrington’s last three meetings with Wigan (2-1-1).

Kevin Penny needs one appearance to reach 150 for his career. Penny has played 59 games in two spells with Warrington (2006-2009 & 2014-2015), and has also played club rugby for Widnes (22 games, 2009 & 2011), Harlequins (five games, 2010), Wakefield (five games, 2011), Swinton (54 games, 2012-2014) and North Wales Crusaders (4 games, 2015).

Richie Myler needs one appearance to reach 200 for his career. Myler has played 135 games for Warrington since 2010, and was previously with Salford (53 games, 2008-2009) and Widnes (two games, 2007). He has also represented England (eight games, 2008-2009 & 2011-2013) and England Knights (one game, 2011).

Lee Mossop needs one appearance to reach 150 for his career. Mossop has played 128 games for Wigan (2008-2013 & 2015), to go with appearances for Parramatta Eels (3, 2014). He has also represented England (seven games, 2012-2013) and England Knights (one game, 2011), and has made loan/dual-registration appearances for Barrow (4, 2009), Huddersfield (five, 2009) and Workington (one, 2015) whilst with the Warriors.

Super League Summary:

Warrington won 16
Wigan won 29 (includes wins in 2013 Grand Final & 2003 and 2014 play-offs)
Two draws
Warrington highest score: 47-38 (H, 2001) (Widest margin: 30-10, H, 2012)
Wigan highest score: 58-4 (H, 2002) (also widest margin)

Last 10 Meetings:

Wigan 30, Warrington 20 (SLR11, 16/4/15)
Wigan 16, Warrington 12 (SLQSF, 3/10/14)
Wigan 24, Warrington 20 (SLR27, 11/9/14)
Warrington 4, Wigan 12 (SLR6, 20/3/14)
Warrington 16, Wigan 30 (SLGF, 5/10/13) (at Old Trafford, Manchester)
Warrington 22, Wigan 12 (SLR19, 24/6/13)
Wigan 17, Warrington 17 (SLR2, 8/2/13)
Warrington 30, Wigan 10 (SLR24, 11/8/12)
Wigan 20, Warrington 22 (SLR8, 23/3/12)
Warrington 39, Wigan 12 (SLR26, 4/9/11)