Adrian Lam names the Wigan 21-man squad to face Salford Red Devils.
The head coach names an unchanged side from the one that beat Leigh.
Salford Red Devils v Wigan Warriors, Saturday 22nd May, AJ Bell Stadium 1pm K.O.
Adrian Lam has named the Wigan Warriors 21-man squad to face Salford Red Devils in the Betfred Super League this Saturday.
Lam’s side will look to continue their winning start to the Super League season on Saturday when they travel to the AJ Bell Stadium to face Richard Marshall’s side.

The Red Devils have had a contrasting start to 2021, having won just one of their six Betfred Super League fixtures.

Team News
After being handed a Grade F charge (Unacceptable language based on national or ethnic origin), prop forward Tony Clubb will serve the third of an eight match ban. Full statement HERE.

Injury News
Club captain Tommy Leuluai remains unavailable with a sternum injury.

Oliver Gildart again misses out as he looks to return from a groin issue which has kept him out of action in 2021 so far.

Liam Marshall is still unavailable as he recovers from a knee injury (ACL) which has kept the winger out of action since September 2020

Half back Jai Field continues his recovery from a torn hamstring sustained during Wigan’s season opener against Leigh Centurions in March.

Wigan Warriors 21-man squad to face Salford Red Devils

1. Bevan French
2. Dom Manfredi
3. Zak Hardaker
8. Brad Singleton
9. Sam Powell
10. Joe Bullock
11. Willie Isa
12. Liam Farrell
13. John Bateman
14. Oliver Partington
15 Morgan Smithies
19. Liam Byrne
20. Harry Smith
21. Ethan Havard
22. Jake Bibby
23. Mitch Clark
25. Joe Shorrocks
27. Kai Pearce-Paul
28. Sam Halsall
30. Umyla Hanley
31. Jackson Hastings

Bullock for Singleton (assuming Lam is rotating the props) and Pearce-Paul for Smithies, no point risking an ankle injury especially on a short turnaround

It’s got to the stage with Lams injury news that you may as well ignore it. Gildart not quite right for Leigh but definitely right for Salford was the word last week. I think he said the same on Leuluai. Marshall’s 2-3 weeks could be 2-3 months I’d imagine.

Anyways, aside from that I’d probably go with the same again bar maybe Bullock starting, Partington dropping to the bench and Shorrocks dropping out.

Smithies and Isa may not be 100 % fit says Lam blood two new ones.

French
Manfredi
Hardaker
Halsall
Bibby
Smith
Hastings
Bullock
Powell
Singleton
Bateman
Farrell
Partington
Havard, Clark, Byrne, Pearce-Paul.

Bullock coming in for Smithies seems obvious.

Isa being out is a little trickier, Hardaker to centre Hanley to wing. Or Halsall straight into the centres.

Mumblings KPP could get a run which would be good.

Super League’s joint table-toppers Wigan look like having to travel to the AJ Bell Stadium to face Salford on Saturday minus the services of Willie Isa.

The Samoan international sustained a corked calf muscle in Monday night’s defeat of Leigh Centurions and according to Adrian Lam he is a doubtful starter at the weekend along with Morgan Smithies, who has what his coach describes as “a high ankle sprain and muscle tear issue” that also occurred in the victory at Leigh Sports Village.

Although Smithies’ injury was not as bad as it had first appeared, Isa’s will be a difficult one to fully shake-off with only six days between matches and the Warriors boss is inclined to err on the side of caution.

“It’s a short turnaround for both clubs and you’ve got to make sure you’re playing players who are 100 per cent fit,” he said.

“If those two aren’t quite 100 per cent it’s probably a week not to pick them and to give someone else an opportunity.”

That opportunity may again come knocking for 20-year-old Kai Pearce-Paul, who has been seen for only a few minutes in Wigan colours in last year’s 0-42 defeat by St Helens, also played at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The London-born second-row comes with a giant reputation, commensurate with his 6’ 5’’ stature and Lam said: “I think if Morgan Smithies doesn’t play Kai Pearce-Paul will come into the line-up.

“He’s a player that I’ve been holding back to play for a long time. He’s very exciting, one for the fans and all of Super League to watch. He’s got a big future ahead of him but he’s been like a wild dog on a short lead so hopefully we can let him go off that lead and attack on Saturday and you’ll get to see one of Wigan’s next young players coming through.”

Pearce-Paul has proved a real handful to stop in opposed training sessions and Lam admitted “when we named him in the squad all the boys cheered really loudly because they know what he’s capable of doing.

“Hopefully if he gets selected this week it will be the start of many to come but he’s certainly one to keep your eye on because he’s got that ‘X Factor’ about him. (He’s) a big body. Mobile, agile, lanky arms, got an offload, great footwork and he’s hard to contain.”

In addition to that potential excitement, Wigan will soon be able to welcome back club captain Thomas Leuluai, who should be available for the trip to Catalan next week, while Oliver Gildart is described by his coach as having “a big chance of playing” against the Dragons.

What the bloody hell is a corked calf muscle when it's at home

Who knows but I guess it’ll keep him out between one and thirty seven weeks going off Lam’s updates.

3. Hardaker
1. French
22. Bibby
28. Halsall
2. Manfredi
20. Smith
31. Hastings
8. Singleton
9. Powell
21. Havard
12. Farrell
11. Isa
13. Bateman

14. Partington
19. Bryne
27. KPP
10. Bullock

Preferring Zak at FB purely due to the weather, I doubt French will be able to hit his straps on a wet muddy AJ Bell field. Strong starting pack to match Salford’s predictable early aggression. I get the feeling it’ll be a tough day due to the weather and we’ll need to dig deep and play to the conditions. Still should be walking away with a 6-10pt win IMO.

Last seasons game against Salford it was performances from Brown, Sarg and Evalds who won them the match. Salford in recent year have been a bogey team for us but I think with those players out and Watson gone we should win.

Will be good to see Budgie play as well as KPP if he is picked.

Wee Tam and Gildart have a good chance to face Catalans next week . So that will be a nae chance then on Lam's current estimate record .

Regards EW

Think he meant Catalans next year (but even that won’t come off as they won’t be here).

Do you not rate Manfredi are have you forgot him.

I’d go-

French
Manfredi Hardaker Farrell Bibby
Hastings Smith
Bullock Powell Singleton
Bateman Shorrocks Havard

Subs
Partington, Clark, Byrne, Pearce-Paul.

+1

Weather is forecast to be dry but cold, putting Hardaker and Manfredi as a pairing should help to nullify Burgess in the air, if he plays.

Edited. To be totally honest I missed his name.

More or less agree with NK's team but I reckon Lam will go with Partington at loose and Havard off the bench.

I do too, but I can't imagine Lam would go with Shorrocks and KPP, when you'd have thought it was one or the other at most.

Unless Shorrocks starts????

Salford should be there for the taking today IMO. They seem to have gotten worse under Marshall and certainly a bit chunkier. But it depends on what Wigan turn up, even if we play badly I’d still expect a win today of at least 2+ tries. For my money the only worse team than Salford in SL is Leigh.

Most confident I've felt all season, if whoever's kicking has a half decent day I reckon we'll put 40+ on them

Lams confident. He said in his interview we’ve trained great and they look ready. Hopefully we don’t leave 4 or 5 try’s out there for the 94th game in the trot.


Looking forward to it.

So he should be. We’ll either do a number on Salford or win by 2/3 tries IMO. Either way, play poorly, play great we win comfortably.

Not sure where this confidence is coming from? Leigh went 10 up Vs us and I doubt that, if we give that start to Salford, they'll let us back in.

They dogged it out with Saints last week and it took a big pack effort from Saints to win it. We don't have that.

They also smashed us in preseason.

I agree don't get where this confidence is coming from, we've looked poor in lots of games this season, i think it will be tight game