[urlhttps://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/06/16/wigan-squad-for-warrington-5/[/url
Wigan squad for Warrington
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16 June 2023
21-man squad announced for Sunday’s Challenge Cup Quarter Final clash against Warrington Wolves, in association with Greenmount Projects.
Matt Peet has made one change to the squad ahead of this fixture.
Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves, Sunday 18 June, 2:30pm K.O.
Matt Peet has named his 21-man squad for Sunday’s Challenge Cup Quarter Final clash with Warrington Wolves at the DW Stadium (2:30pm K.O.).
Peet has made one change to his 21-player squad as Sam Powell is replaced by Ethan Havard, who comes back into contention after recovering from an elbow injury sustained in Wigan’s Challenge Cup victory at Leeds Rhinos last month.

Wigan squad for Warrington:


1. Jai Field
2. Bevan French
3. Toby King
4. Jake Wardle
5. Liam Marshall
6. CadeCust
1. Harry Smith
8. Brad Singleton
10. Ham Byrne
12. Liam Farrell
13. Morgan Smithies
15. Kaide Ellis
16. Ethan Havard
19. JoeShorrocks
20. Patrick Mago
21. lain Thornley
22. Brad O'Neill
23. Abbas Mlskl
26. HarvieHIII
27. Junior Nsemba
32. Ryan Hampshire

No Powell again....

I've been told that the relationship between Powell and Peet is poor and is getting worse. Doesn't surprise me that he's dropped again.

However I must stress that this has not come from my mate at Wigan (given that 2 of you on this forum know who my mate is)

This has come from someone at Saints but someone that would know so I have no reason to doubt it

Really surprised he’s not in. I think his time should be coming to an end but he’s solid and I thought we’d start with him on Sunday.

My Team V Wire
1.Field
2.French
3.King
4.Wardle
5.Marshall
6.Hampshire
7.Smith
8.Havard
9.Cust
10.Byrne
11.Nsemba
12.Farrell
13.Smithies
Subs
Ellis, O'Neil, Singleton and Hill

Field
French
King
Wardle
Marshall
Hampshire
Smith
Ellis
O'Neill
Byrne
Farrell
Shorrocks
Smithies

Cust
Havard
Hill
Nsemba

Hampshire to take a bit of pressure off Smith by kicking the goals, unfortunate for Miski but I feel he's been targeted defensively a bit lately and could benefit from a rest.

What's the cause of the worsening relationship Stu?

I’d stick with the 1,6 and 7 from last week but hand the goal kicking to Wardle.

Field
Miski King Wardle Marshall
French Smith
Singleton O’Neill Ellis
Nsemba Farrell Smithies

Subs
Byrne Havard Mago Cust

Changed my mind on Hill over Mago based on Havard being back in. Mago won’t need to do extended minutes and he does at least go forward, so hopefully we can get a good spell from him. I’d start Nsemba. He’s a natural second rower and adds size.

He didn't say and I didn't ask but I suppose its natural within any competitive environment that coach and player don't always see eye to eye. I imagine it will be similar at most clubs. Perhaps Peet has given his feedback and Powell didn't agree. I'm only assuming though.

I know that there were certain players at Wigan during individual reviews that would accept and react well to criticism and again others that wouldn't listen. Maybe Powell is the latter. Again though this won't be exclusive to Wigan as a club

As an outsider looking in I feel that you need to make sure that French and Field fit into the team the best way they can. That for me is Field at 1 and French on the wing. Personally I feel that French is wasted on the wing but you had some initial success with that combination and it then makes your 1-5 very strong.

I was at the Saints v Wigan reserves game last week and Hampshire played 6. He wasn't particularly great but he's a recognised 6 and can goal kick.

The other consideration will be the weather. Although its been glorious of late there is a weather warning for Sunday for potentially torrential rain and thunderstorms. It may not be the type of game to throw the ball about.

Wardle Kicking???? mind you cant be any worse than Smith!

Kicked through his academy days and a bit for Huddersfield’s first team. Got told by a Huddersfield fan, who watched him on a regular basis in the academy, that he’s good but who knows.

Just need to take the pressure off Harry Smith IMO.

I think Powell being left out is a mistake from the outside looking on but obviously we dont know the full picture. Moving French from fullback was also a mistake as this was one of the few things that was working well for us in this poor stretch.

French
Miski
King
Wardle
Marshall
Field
Smith
Singleton
O'Neill
Byrne
Farrell
Smithies
Ellis

Havard
Mago
Hill
Cust

The best performance we have put together this season was at Leigh with French at fullback and Field at 6 so for me that's the way we should be going. Ultimately, the game will depend on how our forwards go. Great to have Havard back, hopefully he's fully fit and ready to do good minutes.

In terms of Powell, he can go for me at the end of the season. Top servant to the club which im sure everyone appreciates but he simply isn't good enough to be playing hooker for Wigan anymore regardless of his relationship with Peet.

I think abandoning this option off the back of one very poor performance is silly. It may have made some sense if French is a much better defender but I'm not sure he is.

I don't think Peet will go that way though - he'll either stick to the Saints lineup or revert to the 2022 line up with Bevan on the wing and one of Cust/Hampshire coming in.

He seemed to indicate in his Wigan TV interview that we’ll be sticking with French at 6. It’s not just the shuffling around at halfback that is hurting defensively, it’s the people on the inside and outside of the stand off changing. We’ve swapped second rowers and then took King out last week as well.

I’ve no issue with Field at 1 and French 6 because I think French can do what he does at 1, when playing at 6 and it’s nice to have Fields legs at the back but we need to let things settle around them now. In saying that, I’m swapping both the right sided centre and second rower again in my team but I’d be sticking with it after that.

Field has been doing well recently with the boot.

I love French or Field in the halves in attack as I feel French is just a waste on the wing (especially doing yardage carries) but the defence issues for hard to watch. Field seems better attacking at 6 than French but vice verca in defence.

Could French not play 6 but defend out on the wing? Just means Miski defending in the centres and King in the half back spot.

Think King would be fine but Miski defending at centre may be an issue. Perhaps okay Thornley on the wing as he’ll be used to defending in the centres.

Just a thought!

Anyway the above won’t happen so my normal thoughts.

As NK has said I expected and wanted Powell back in for this game. Cade Cust is really bad defending and the likes of Vaughan etc will have joy running over him all day. Powell was very good against Wire in April and played loose for a lot of the game as we were short. Somethings going on there.

I’d also bring King back in for Thornley. I feel the Catalans right side defence issues were mostly caused by Field and not King. Thornley had a shocker against Saints last week particularly first half.

I’d like Nsemba to get back in the squad. As above he seemed to be scapegoated for the Catalan game. Had a flick through the reserves win against Saints and he seemed to be involved in most tries. Shorrocks has been ineffective since moving back to the pack, maybe a bench spot.

Havard back is brilliant, one of the best props in SL but under the radar even with some Wigan fans. Comfortably our best prop.

Sorry for rambling my team with that squad

Field
Miski/Thornley
King
Wardle
Marshall
French
Smith
Byrne
O’Neill
Singleton
Smithies
Farrell
Ellis

Havard
Shorrocks
Cust
Nsemba

Just seen a nice feature on twitter about Big Junior, with his Dad explaining about his upbringing. Nice unique story.

I’m guessing it’ll get shown before the game, he still may not play but we’ll see.

Cracking piece that. Wasn’t sure which country his family came from and certainly didn’t know Rigobert Song was his uncle and Alex Song his cousin (famous footballers from the Cameroon for anyone who doesn’t know the names).

On Wigans feed?

They retweeted it mate, the account it came from was @TheChallengeCup

1 - Field
2 - French
3 - Eckersley
4 - Wardle
5 - Marshall
6 - Cust
7 - Smith
8 - Byrne
9 - Powell
10 - Singleton
11 - Farrell
12 - Smithies
13 - Ellis

14 - Forber
15 - Hill
16 - Nsemba
17 - Havard

Powell not even in the squad

Or Forber. Or Eckersley.