Head Coach Adrian Lam has named the Wigan Warriors 21-man squad to face Warrington Wolves this Thursday in the 2020 Betfred Super League opener (K.O. 7:45pm).
The Warriors will host Steve Price’s men at the DW Stadium in the blockbuster opener of the new season.
2019 Steve Prescott Man of Steel Jackson Hastings, George Burgess and Jake Bibby are all included in the squad and could make their debuts in front of a home crowd on Thursday night.
Injuries
Despite making his return to action in the final pre-season friendly vs Leigh Centurions last week, winger Dom Manfredi is deemed not quite ready for a return to Betfred Super League action.
Speaking on Monday, Adrian Lam said: “It is a bit too soon for now, we will probably give him another two weeks then he will be available for the Toronto game.”
The Head Coach also ruled out Oliver Gildart (dislocated shoulder) and Ben Flower, who is returning to match fitness, for selection this week.
Wigan Warriors 21-man squad vs Warrington Wolves
1 Zak Hardaker
2 Liam Marshall
3 Chris Hankinson
5 Joe Burgess
6 Bevan French
7 Thomas Leuluai
8 Tony Clubb
9 Sam Powell
10 George Burgess
11 Willie Isa
12 Liam Farrell
13 Sean O’Loughlin
15 Joe Greenwood
16 Morgan Smithies
17 Oliver Partington
19 Joe Bullock
20 Liam Byrne
23 Jake Bibby
28 Harry Smith
30 Ethan Havard
31 Jackson Hastings

Only Flower and Gildart unavailable, should be a good indication of where we're at.

I take it Clarke needs more game time to get match fit like Manfredi

What I will say is that with 4 players out (Flower/Manfredi/Gildart/Clarke) that's a pretty good 21.
Theres another 3/4 chomping at the bit to get in giving us 27/28 real options.
So squad wise we have more than enough IMO
Real question for me is if we can get a 90% team out there missing no more then a couple on average week in week out is our 17 good enough.
Cant wait to find out!

I’m really interested to see if anyone can knock the door down when it comes to selection longer term. Will anyone outside the top 18/19 players make themselves undroppable? Bibby has an early chance to make himself that for when Gildart is back and one player I could see getting an opportunity and not letting it go is young Havard. It won’t come this week but what I saw in London and then against Leeds and Leigh was a young lad who looks ready to scrap for a spot. Naturally I think he’s more talented than one or two who’ll be in the 17 on Thursday, so it’ll be just about taking his chance when it comes along.

By all accounts Clarke hasn’t exactly made a good example of himself during any pre season games whilst the likes of Bullock, Havard and Kilner have hence their inclusion. I’ve said it before but our props have to perform week in week out as we’ve now for the back up to replace them. Clarke has now become victim #1.

I'm not convinced that our pack will make good yards on a regular basis however, I can't wait to see Hastings and French linking up.
If we can win our first 3 games then it would be great start.
I've already booked for Cas away on the back of my grandson wanting to go to away matches and his unbridled enthusiasm together with the new signings have got me really anticipating a turn for the better this season.

French
Marshall
Hardaker
Bibby
Burgess
Hastings
Tommy
Burgess
Powell
Partington
Isa
Farrell
O’Loughlin

Bullock
Bryne
Smithies
Clubb

Is it on television or is it the hull derby,not my favourite ground to attend and it will no doubt be bad weather

I would love for us to have a season or two with relatively low injuries. Like you said 1-2 now and again and not 7-8 as seems to be the normal for us over the last few years.

My grandson picked Cas away for his first trip into Yorkshire. I haven't got a clue why he picked them.
The atmospheric at Cas can be a bit wild and I'm certain that it will be pizzing down and freezing.

Sorry I haven't got a clue if it's on Sky

At least there's a pub outside the ground, Itchy.

French
Marshall
Hardaker
Bibby
J Burgess
Tommy
Hastings
Partington
Powell
G Burgess
Isa
Faz
Lockers

Byrne
Havard
Smithies
Clubb

No Bullock, Flower or Clarke in there is startling for me but Havard and Byrne fully deserve their places. Personally I’d have taken out Clubb for one of the aforementioned 3 but Lam is predominately putting his faith in the youngsters.

It’ll be interesting to see what our back line will be when Gildart is back too.