SL Preview: Wigan v Warrington
Paul Wood returns to the Warrington squad at the end of a week in which he was linked with Friday’s opponents Wigan.
Wood turned out for Swinton in the Championship last weekend, and rumours surfaced that Warriors head coach Shaun Wane was interested in bringing Wood to his hometown club.
They were soon quashed by Wolves Head Coach Tony Smith, who has also had to deal with speculation linking Adrian Morley with a move to Salford.
It’s an early season indicator of where these two title rivals are at in 2013, and not much can be read in to last week’s results, where both sides ran in comfortable victories.
Wigan kicked the season off with a 42-0 thumping of Salford, while Warrington beat Castleford 40-24; although they didn’t score after the 43rd minute.
The Wolves are, however, hunting a third successive victory at the DW Stadium.
Wigan 19-man squad: Burke, Charnley, Dudson, Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Goulding, Green, Hughes, McIlorum, Mossop, O’Loughlin, Powell, Prescott, Richards, Smith, Taylor, Thornley, S Tomkins.
Warrington 19-man squad: Atkins, Briers, Carvell, Cooper, Currie, Evans, Grix, Higham, Hill, Hodgson, J Monaghan, M Monaghan, Morley, Myler, Ratchford, Riley, Waterhouse, Westwood, Wood.
Prediction: Probably one of the toughest games to call in the whole year – but will plump for Wigan.
Stats:
Warrington’s Joel Monaghan has scored a try in each of the Wolves’ last three meetings with Wigan.
Last 10 meetings:
Warrington 30, Wigan 10 (SLR24, 11/8/12)
Wigan 20, Warrington 22 (SLR8, 23/3/12)
Warrington 39, Wigan 12 (SLR26, 4/9/11)
Warrington 24, Wigan 44 (CCQF, 23/7/11)
Wigan 6, Warrington 24 (SLR7, 25/3/11)
Wigan 16, Warrington 23 (SLR22, 16/7/10)
Warrington 20, Wigan 22 (SLR3, 20/2/10)
Wigan 36, Warrington 16 (SLR24, 14/8/09)
Warrington 39, Wigan 26 (CCSF, 8/8/09)
(at Stobart Stadium, Widnes)
Warrington 16, Wigan 8 (SLR15, 22/5/09)
Super League summary:
Wigan won 24 (includes win in 2003 play-offs)
Warrington won 15
1 draw
Wigan highest score. 58-4 (H, 2002) (also widest margin)
Warrington highest score. 47-38 (H, 2001) (Widest margin. 30-10, H, 2012)