Page 31 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

PREVIEW

WIGAN WARRIORS

RLW PREDICTS: 2nd

Wigan’s charge towards the Grand Final discipline on the field after two separate
was expertly halted by Salford Red Devils eye gouge charges but there’s no doubt
last year but their run up to that game is that he could prove to be the best
a sign of things to come this year. forward in Super League in 2020.
Adrian Lam had a really slow start at Recently, he has lost his position in the
the DW Stadium in 2019 but once they national team but you wouldn’t back
got going, only Salford found a way past against him reclaiming that with some
them at the second time of asking. excellent performances in the cherry and
Their recruitment will excite their fans white. George is the only one of the four
even more. Wigan demand an attractive brothers yet to play in Super League.
style of play and despite losing George The depth to Wigan’s squad is scary. The
Williams to the NRL they have moved young players who rose up through the
to replace him with Man of Steel winner ranks, like Morgan Smithies and Oliver
Jackson Hastings. You can’t really do Partington, mean they have a squad of
much better than that. almost 30 established Super League
Williams has an exceptional running players with some excellent young stars
game but Hastings is probably more of an on the cusp of the squad who are more
all-round halfback who offers them that than capable if called upon.
game management aspect too. Hopefully That’s Wigan’s secret weapon, if times
Hastings can continue his excellent form get tough with injuries, they have a
with his new club. conveyor belt of talent who will come into
Zak Hardaker’s 2019 was great for Wigan the team and excel, just like Smithies and 2020 SQUAD:
in his return to the sport after serving his Partington did last year. 1 Zak Hardaker
suspension. With a year under his belt, They will most probably be St Helens’ 2 Liam Marshall
Hardaker will have improved and along with main challengers this season along
Sam Powell forms another excellent spine. with Warrington. The front three look 3 Chris Hankinson
The signing of George Burgess from comfortably superior to the chasing pack 4 Oliver Gildart
South Sydney is a real coup for the on paper but the season rarely sticks to 5 Joe Burgess
club. Burgess has had his problems with the script. 6 Bevan French
7 Thomas Leuluai
STAR PLAYER COACH 8 Tony Clubb
9 Sam Powell
10 George Burgess
11 Willie Isa
12 Liam Farrell
13 Sean O’Loughlin
14 Ben Flower
15 Joe Greenwood
16 Morgan Smithies
17 Oliver Partington
19 Joe Bullock
20 Liam Byrne
21 Dom Manfredi
Adrian Lam wasn’t supposed to be 22 Mitch Clark
coach of Wigan Warriors this season but 23 Jake Bibby
As the current Man of Steel, Jackson after Shaun Edwards pulled out of the 24 Morgan Escare
Hastings has to be Wigan’s choice deal that would have seen him replace 26 Romain Navarrete
for star player in 2020. But it’s a very Lam after a year, the former Papua New
different environment for Hastings with Guinea international will remain with the 27 Jake Shorrocks
the Warriors. club into 2020. 28 Harry Smith
At Salford, he was a big fish in a relatively He had a slow start at the helm at the 29 Jack Wells
small pond but now he’s in a big pond with DW Stadium but Wigan warmed up as 30 Ethan Havard
a load of other big fish. the season went on until their progress 31 Jackson Hastings
Hastings has been in Super League since was put on ice by Salford Red Devils, one 32 Amir Bourouh
2018 after joining Salford from Manly game out from the Grand Final. 33 Joe Shorrocks
Sea Eagles. Lam’s squad is even stronger in 2020 and
He also previously played in the NRL for the fans will be expecting exciting Rugby 34 Kai Pearce-Paul
Sydney Roosters and represented Great League and a Grand Final appearance at 35 Sam Halsall
Britain on tour in 2019. least this year.

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