Adrian Lam names the Wigan Warriors squad to face Salford Red Devils this Friday.
Jai Field among five changes for the Warriors.
Wigan Warriors v Salford Red Devils, Fri 6th August, DW Stadium, 7:45pm K.O.
Adrian Lam has named the Wigan Warriors squad to face Salford Red Devils this Friday in Round 18 of the Betfred Super League.
The Cherry and Whites will host Richard Marshall’s men at the DW Stadium with the game getting underway at 7:45pm.

The two met once already this season, with Wigan coming out on top at the AJ Bell Stadium thanks to a late Jackson Hastings drop-goal.

Team news
Jai Field is included for the first time since Round 1 after suffering a hamstring injury against Leigh back in March.

Zak Hardaker (neck), Morgan Smithies (ankle) and Ethan Havard (hip) also return from their respective injuries. Liam Marshall is the fifth change, returning after missing out last week against Leigh with a failed HIA (Head Injury Assessment) from the midweek Warrington clash.


Hardaker has been sidelined since Wigan’s defeat to Catalans on 29th May.
Brad Singleton and Oliver Partington have been served with three and two-match bans respectively for Grade C (Punching) offences in Wigan’s win over Leigh last week.

Injury news
Tommy Leuluai misses out with a hamstring injury sustained against Leigh Centurions last week.

Dom Manfredi remains sidelined with a knee injury.

Bevan French continues recovery from a hamstring injury, expected to keep the full back out for the remainder of the 2021 season.

Wigan Warriors squad v Salford Red Devils

3. Zak Hardaker
4. Oliver Gildart
5. Liam Marshall
6. Jai Field
9. Sam Powell
10. Joe Bullock
11. Willie Isa
13. John Bateman
15. Morgan Smithies
17. Tony Clubb
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
33. Amir Bourouh

Good to get some bodies back. I would go:

Hardaker
Marshall
Gildart
Bibby
Hanley
Hastings
Smith
Clubb
Powell
Havard
Farrell
Isa
Bateman

Field
KPP
Clarke
Shorrocks

Lovely timing to get a few back. We might not see them all but at least they’re very close. Lam won’t drive competition I’m sure but what an opportunity for him to do so. No way should Bourouh, Clark, KPP etc be dropping out (on form. No issues with a KPP rest) but they will over these next couple of weeks. Tony Clubb will start, Powell will go back to being flogged for 80 minutes and we’ll have four forwards on the bench.

How refreshing to have some selection headaches.

Field full back/ half back / wing?

Zak FB/Centre?

Hastings Left HB/Right HB/ full back?

Smith left or right or rest ?

Isa/Bateman/KPP/Shorrocks who plays Second row?

Not even going to guess at a team but great to have options.

Oh to have French back in this team.

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Good to have options, i'd be loathe to start Field after such a bad injury. Ideal scenario is we put the game to bed and he can have a 15min cameo at the end of the game

What's happened to O'Neill?

Hardaker
Marshall
Gildart
Isa
Bibby
Hastings
Smith
Clubb
Powell
Bullock
Farrell
KPP
Bateman

Field
Havard
Clarke
Shorrocks

Extra forward for this match

Good to see some bodies coming back, whether they play this week or not is another thing. I feel this is an important game (as is the rest of the season). If we can win it will give us a bit of breathing space ahead of Hull going into a tough run in playing the top 7 in the last 7 matches.

Faz *still* isn't in the squad!

Hardaker
Marshall
Gildart
Bibby
Halsall
Smith
Hastings
Havard
Powell
Byrne
Smithies
KPP
Bateman

Field
Clarke
Clubb
Isa

Hastings at FB 100%

Shorrocks in the halves?

I wouldn’t be surprised if Hastings finished his time here at fullback. I think Lam wants that option of a man who can pick a pass when chiming in to the line and Hastings brings that. In fairness to Lam and I’m clearly not a fan but he may be right on that move. I don’t think it’ll please Hardaker but Hastings is making masses of ground from fullback, it’s freeing up his running threat, which is something we’ve not seen lots of and he’s laying try’s on for fun recently. I think it’s about 6 or 7 assists in the last two home games. The fact Manfredi is done may mean Hardaker being needed at centre, so Bibby can cover the wing spot.

Wouldn’t put it past him to be honest