Super League Preview: Wigan v Widnes
Widnes are without four ex-Wiganers for their trip to the DW Stadium for Saturday’s televised Super League clash.
Kevin Brown, Cameron Phelps and Stefan Marsh are all out injured, while Gareth Hock is unable to play due to a clause in his loan agreement with the Vikings.
Denis Betts, himself a Wigan legend, still has up to seven players who have previously pulled on the cherry and white to call upon, including Shaun Briscoe who returned to action in last weekend’s defeat to Catalan.
The Warriors also suffered defeat last time out, to Leeds, but they are set to welcome back star full-back Sam Tomkins, after he missed last weekend’s game through injury.
Gil Dudson is the latest player to join Shaun Wane’s injured list, joining Harrison Hansen, Epalahame Lauaki, Paul Prescott, Lee Mossop and Anthony Gelling on the sidelines.
Wigan 19-man squad: Burke, Charnley, Crosby, Lloyd, Farrell, Flower, Goulding, Green, Hughes, McIlorum, O’Loughlin, Powell, Richards, Smith, Taylor, Thornley, L Tomkins, S Tomkins, Tuson.
Widnes 19-man squad: Ah Van, Allen, Briscoe, Cahill, Clarke, Cross, Dean, Flynn, Gerrard, Hanbury, Isa, Joseph, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Mellor, O’Carroll, Pickersgill, White, Winterstein.
Prediction: Wigan will be too strong for Widnes, especially without star signings Brown and Hock – home win.
Stats:
Wigan have won their last four home meetings with Widnes, with the Vikings’ last away win against the Warriors coming 22-18 at the JJB Stadium (as it was then known) on 26 July, 2003.
Last 10 meetings:
Wigan 54, Widnes 12 (SLR18, 25/6/12)
Widnes 37, Wigan 36 (SLR6, 11/3/12)
Widnes 10, Wigan 64 (CCR5, 8/5/10)
Widnes 24, Wigan 34 (CCR4, 1/4/07)
Widnes 24, Wigan 48 (SLR24, 14/8/05)
Wigan 23, Widnes 22 (SLR12, 29/4/05)
Widnes 20, Wigan 32 (SLR4, 6/3/05)
Widnes 20, Wigan 16 (SLR25, 28/8/04)
Widnes 8, Wigan 56 (SLR17, 3/7/04)
Wigan 26, Widnes 8 (SLR9, 7/5/04)
Super League summary:
Wigan won 9
Widnes won 3
Wigan highest score: 56-8 (A, 2004) (also widest margin)
Widnes highest score: 37-36 (H, 2012) (Widest margin: 22-18, A, 2003; 20-16, H, 2004)