INJURY-plagued Warrington Wolves will be out to avoid another mauling by Wigan Warriors at a rugby league showcase event.
The Wolves were heavily beating when they last faced the Warriors going down 48-24 in the historic meeting between the two sides in Las Vegas at the start of March.
They meet the reigning Super League champions again at Magic Weekend on Sunday evening plagued by a number of injuries to key players.
Talisman man George Williams is still sidelined with an ankle injury and will be unable to produce the heroics of 2021 when he led Warrington to victory at St James’ Park against his former club in one of his first appearances in the primrose and blue.
Recent signing Mark Sneyd is also unavailable having suffered a fractured eye socket in Warrington’s recent win over St Helens which leaves Sam Burgess scratching his head even further on how to solve his half back conundrum. That’s become even more of a challenge with a reported knee injury sustained by Danny Walker, who has been deputising at stand-off in the absence of Williams.
Prolific winger Matty Ashton and his inside centre Toby King will also miss the Magic Weekend clash, Ashton sidelined through concussion protocols and Toby King nursing a groin injury that Warrington have decided not to risk ahead of next weekend’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Leigh Leopards at the Totally Wicked Stadium in Saint Helens
It means a weakened squad has been named for this game, which kicks off at 3:15pm on Sunday at the home of Newcastle United.
Former London Broncos halfback Oli Leyland, signed in the off-season, is included having not featured at all for the Wolves since being trampled all over in the Las Vegas clash.
Despite their shock exit from the Challenge Cup at the hands of Hull FC, Wigan still look like one of the two favourites to win Super League this season, alongside Hull KR.
The Locker Cup, a historic trophy contested between the two clubs dating back to 1938, will be on the line in the game. It was revived in 2019 after a 23 year absence, with Warrington winning 26-14 in the Magic Weekend clash at Anfield. Most recently it was won by Wigan in a 19-18 victory at the Halliwell Jones Stadium last year.
Warrington: Crowther, Currie, Dufty, Fitzgibbon, Harrison, Holroyd, Irwin, Leyland, Lindop, Musgrove, Philbin, Powell, Ratchford, Russell, Tai, Jake Thewlis, Josh Thewlis, Vaughan, Walker, Wood, Yayes
Wigan: Field, Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith, O’Neill, Thompson, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis, Byrne, Leeming, Dupree, Hill, Walters, Eckersley, Forber, Farrimond, Kerr.
