IMO! When Hadley comes back would have him.or washy starting. Other on bench and use as interchange till Houghton's back

Calf tear is a cm a week so hopefully not a real bad one.

If it was up to me I would start Washbrook against Wire and give Litten 20 minutes of the bench either side of half time (if everything goes to plan re injuries etc). We can assess from there whether hes ready for more game time or whether Hadley takes his role the week after.

Houghton was subbed in the Widnes game at the K Com.

Give Litten a game. Long term we want to have the conveyor belt of homegrown youth to 1st team players coming through.

Wigan just throw them in.

Leeds a few years back had endless young kids coming through.

Surrounded by Ellis & Mini there's no time like the present to start building up Litten's exposure to SL. Lets face it Houghton might not get injured again for a long time based on his previous injury record.

I agree give him a run.He wont be doing many one on one tackles

Wigan don't just throw em in.. never have. Not in the key positions. Williams tomkins powell. All phased in steady. I can't recall last 18 year old hooker been chucked in anywhere. Position is too hard
Only few weeks ago horne talking about the physical work he needs to be upto level of SL . Couple of times in offseason to. I'd be suprised to see him tbh

He is 19, but I see your point and you are right about Wigan and Leeds, they are usually 21 before they break through.

I think the fact Radford has mentions him, might give him a chance, long term there is no way he could last, but maybe short term he could do a job off the bench.

Jayden Brailey at the Sharks is expected to play 60+ each week, he played 80 in the first 3 games and the WCC. He's only 20 so I don't see why Litten can't do 20-30 off the bench for a few weeks

Not for much longer. Just signed Segeyaro.

But I agree Litten should be able to do a stint off the bench.

Wasn't Houghton 19 when he debuted?

Reading Horne's and Radford's comments about Litten I don't think they see him as a complete player yet but that he could do a job off the bench. That's all we need for now.

Have we found out how long he is out for?

Even with them signing Segeyaro he'll still be doing best part of 60 mins a game. Unless they're very physically underdeveloped (unusual in this day and age) then a 19 year old should be able to do a stint from the bench IMO

Jayden Brailey is not Jez Litten. It is ridiculous to assume all players all players develop at the same rate and time scale. Its the same as saying that because Bateman and Currie played at a high level as teenagers then all back row forwards should follow this path. As has been pointed out most Wigan youngsters actually (and very sensibly BTW) get their first proper run out in their early 20's.

I'm not saying all players develop at the same rate, if I was then I'd be saying Litten could do 80 minutes now. Clearly theres a big difference between 80 mins regularly and 20-30 from the bench to fill in for an injured player!