There are some big decisions to be made at Wigan Warriors following their double-suspension blow.
Wigan full-back Jai Field and head coach Matt Peet after the club’s Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Wakefield Trinity.
Wigan Warriors will be forced into changes over the next three weeks following suspensions handed to stars Harry Smith and Sam Walters.
The club opted against appealing the bans after their Challenge Cup quarter-final victory over Wakefield Trinity. Both players received Grade E charges, resulting in three-match suspensions – Smith for unnecessary contact with a player who is, or may be, injured, and Walters for headbutting.
Wigan return to Super League action on Sunday when they face Castleford Tigers at the Brick Community Stadium.
They remain without key players Bevan French and Jake Wardle, which has already led to Jack Farrimond being promoted into the starting halves and captain Liam Farrell being utilised in the centres.
Now, with another half-back and another back-rower unavailable for fixtures against Castleford, Warrington and Bradford, further decisions are required.
One option could see Jai Field, who recently returned from appendix surgery, move into the halves, with rising youngster Noah Hodkinson promoted back into the first-team squad after a run of senior appearances this year.
In the back-row, Farrell could shift back into his preferred position, while off-season recruits Jonny Vaughan and Finn McMillan – who joined from St Helens and Barrow Raiders respectively – are also potential options. Highly rated Lukas Mason is another possibility, yet to make his senior debut after progressing through the club’s famous academy system.
Alternatively, Field could remain at full-back, with Adam Keighran moving into the halves – a role he has previously filled for the Warriors – and a new option coming in at centre. However, with Walters already absent on that right edge, this approach would mean significant changes to one side of the team.
Hodkinson, or youngster Nathan Lowe, provide options on the wing – with Eckersley comfortable at playing in the centres, including his Challenge Cup heroics back in 2024 at Wembley.
Dayon Sambou, who also joined from Saints during the off-season and made a try-scoring Wigan debut against Bradford in the Challenge Cup, is an option in the outside-backs.
A left-field move could see Oliver Partington fill in the halves, which would limit the amount of changes required across the starting 13.
Predicted XIII: Noah Hodkinson, Zach Eckersley, Adam Keighran, Dayon Sambou, Liam Marshall, Jai Field, Jack Farrimond, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.
Bench: Patrick Mago, Oliver Partington, Sam Eseh, Taylor Kerr.
Option B
Predicted XIII: Jai Field, Dayon Sambou, Zach Eckersley, Liam Farrell, Liam Marshall, Adam Keighran, Jack Farrimond, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Lukas Mason, Kaide Ellis.
Bench: Patrick Mago, Oliver Partington, Sam Eseh, Noah Hodkinson.