Super 8s Preview: Wigan v Salford (Fri)

Salford travel to Wigan on Friday searching for a much-needed win to get their Super 8s campaign moving.

The Red Devils have lost six straight games, including their first two in the Super 8s, and will out to avenge the Challenge Cup semi-final defeat they suffered at the hands of the Warriors last month.

A growing injury list isn’t helping their cause, with Man of Steel contender Ben Murdoch-Masila missing out through a rib injury picked up in last week’s defeat against Castleford.

Michael Dobson and Lee Mossop are both still missing with knocks, while Lama Tasi and Mark Flanagan are out for the season.

Tyrone McCarthy is included in the squad, despite a calf injury he suffered in the warm-up last week.

Coach Ian Watson does have some good news though – centre Junior Sa’u is back for his first appearance of the Super 8s.

Wigan are without winger Tom Davies, who has a hamstring injury, with Nick Gregson deputising.

The Warriors, who won against Huddersfield last time out, could leapfrog the Red Devils in the table with a win.

Stand-off George Williams is due to make his 100th appearance for the club.

It is Wigan’s final game before they are due to face Hull in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

Last ten meetings:

Salford 14, Wigan 27 (CCSF, 30/7/17) (at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington)
Wigan 16, Salford 31 (SLR13, 5/5/17)
Salford 16, Wigan 26 (SLR1, 11/2/17)
Salford 20, Wigan 23 (SLR17, 3/6/16)
Wigan 20, Salford 16 (SLR3, 25/2/16)
Wigan 19, Salford 12 (SLR18, 19/6/15)
Salford 24, Wigan 18 (SLR9, 6/4/15)
Wigan 45, Salford 4 (SLR23, 31/7/14)
Salford 4, Wigan 25 (SLR14, 22/5/14)
Wigan 46, Salford 6 (SLR14, 3/5/13)

Super League summary

Wigan won 35
Salford won 6
Wigan highest score: 70-4 (H, 2001) (also widest margin)
Salford highest score: 31-30 (H, 2001); 31-16 (A, 2017) (Widest margin: 28-10, H, 2006)

Squads:

Wigan: Bateman, Burgess, Clubb, Farrell, Gelling, Gildart, Isa, Leuluai, Marshall, McIlorum, Nuuausala, O’Loughlin, Powell, Sutton, Tautai, Tomkins, Wells, Williams.

Salford: Bibby, Brining, Carney, Evalds, Griffin, Hauraki, Johnson, Jones, Kopczak, Krasniqi, Lannon, Lui, McCarthy, O’Brien, Sa’u, Tomkins, Vatuvei, A Walne, J Walne.

Prediction:

Salford won’t be able to stop the rot at Wigan – Warriors by 16.