Wane ready for Hull test

Wigan coach Shaun Wane knows his side will be tested when they travel to the KC Stadium to face Hull FC this Sunday. 

Last season Wigan beat Hull 48-0 but Wane insists that result was a one-off and will field his best side for the game.  

The Warriors go into the game on the back of a massive 98-4 cup win over Championship One side North Wales Crusaders but Wane is prepared for the challenge ahead. 

He said: “They’re a good team they’ve got some very, very good players.  I’ve watched their last four or five games over the weekend and we need to be at our best.”

The Wigan coach admitted he will be looking at the sides defence ahead of the game in order to get the win. “They can score points from everywhere so we need to be on the ball. They’re a real good rugby league playing team they play very similar to Wests [Tigers] where Peter Gentle came from.”

Wane has a full squad to choose from with no new injuries and Warriors favourites Pat Richards, Sean O’Loughlin and Ben Flower returned to training earlier this week and are in contention. 

Reflecting on the weekend’s cup game, Wane is already looking ahead to his side’s fifth round tie against Featherstone Rovers who caused the upset of the fourth round by beating Castleford Tigers. “We need to know everything about every single Featherstone player, how they attack, how they defend, what the pitch is like.”

In other Wigan news, youngster Joe Mellor has this week travelled to Widnes Vikings on a week’s loan, a move which Wane hopes will help his development.

He said: “I’ll monitor him and watch every game he plays and be having a word with Denis, I know Denis will look after him so it’s the way forward I think it’s what Joe needs at this moment in time.”