Youngster Joe Burgess will relish Tom Briscoe battle

Wigan head-coach Shaun Wane insists Joe Burgess will relish the challenge of facing up against Leeds winger Tom Briscoe on Friday night.

Burgess, 19, is already being mooted for England selection after impressing in pre-season, enough to fill the wing vacated by Pat Richards.

Burgess is in direct competition with Briscoe for a place in Steve McNamara’s Four Nations squad as are the likes of free-scoring Saint Tommy Makinson.

Wane said: “He’s a confident kid but not a cocky kid.

“He backs himself, I remember his debut when he chipped over the top. There are wingers who are frightened of doing that but he did it on his debut.

“It won’t phase him to go up against Tom, he’ll be relishing it and that’s the type of lad I want.

“It’ll be tough, our edges are going well and I’m hoping they’re going to be ready because it’s a big challenge for them.

“We’ll be challenging them (Leeds) so it’ll be a humdinger of a game.”

Wane also branded his second-rower Liam Farrell as ‘captaincy material’ after handing him the armband for Sunday’s cup fixture against Hunslet.

“I gave captaincy to one of the leadership team because Lockers (Sean O’Loughlin) wasn’t included,” Wane said.

“He (Farrell) was supposed to have it a few weeks earlier but Lockers was a late inclusion so he was gutted.

“He impressed me with how he handled it and what he said before the game and at half-time.

“He’s playing like a leader, his form is outstanding which I would expect from a leader.

“I rate him very highly and he’s definitely captaincy material.”