This week Super League takes a break to allow the fourth round of the Challenge Cup to be played and tonight sees Wigan host local rivals Leigh in their first meeting since Leigh's relegation from Super League in 2005.
Aside from local rivalry, there is also a family rivalry with the Thornley brothers playing against each other with Iain (Wigan) and Andrew (Leigh) in their first competitive meeting.
Wigan go into the game not only as favourites but also the bookie's favourites to lift the trophy in August and this comes on the back of red hot form which has seen them beat St Helens, Hull KR, Wakefield and Bradford by comfortable scores which has meant they sit top of the table with a staggering points difference of 298.
Leigh come into the game on the back of a humbling by Halifax which saw them hammered by 60-10 but as we all know a wounded animal can strike back with fatal consequences so Wigan are well aware that Leigh will come into the tie with nothing to lose.
Wigan have included Greenwood, Lloyd and Williams in the 19 as Green, McIlorum and Farrell are all restd after amazing performances so far this season and the injured lads who came back against Bradford all retain a place in the squad.
Wigan - Josh Charnley, Dom Crosby, Gil Dudson, Ben Flower, Darrell Goulding, James Greenwood, Harrison Hansen, Jack Hughes, Rhodri Lloyd, Lee Mossop, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Pat Richards, Matty Smith, Scott Taylor, Iain Thornley, Logan Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams.
Leigh -McNally, Maden, Littler, Gardner, Pownall, Ridyard, Beswick, Spencer, Penkywicz, Parker, Finnigan, Briscoe, Hopkins, Brierley, Ostick, Thornley, Taylor.
As it is a cup game, league positions go out of the window but I still think Wigan with all the superstars back will be too strong for their rivals and as such am going for a Wigan win by 40-12.
Aside from local rivalry, there is also a family rivalry with the Thornley brothers playing against each other with Iain (Wigan) and Andrew (Leigh) in their first competitive meeting.
Wigan go into the game not only as favourites but also the bookie's favourites to lift the trophy in August and this comes on the back of red hot form which has seen them beat St Helens, Hull KR, Wakefield and Bradford by comfortable scores which has meant they sit top of the table with a staggering points difference of 298.
Leigh come into the game on the back of a humbling by Halifax which saw them hammered by 60-10 but as we all know a wounded animal can strike back with fatal consequences so Wigan are well aware that Leigh will come into the tie with nothing to lose.
Wigan have included Greenwood, Lloyd and Williams in the 19 as Green, McIlorum and Farrell are all restd after amazing performances so far this season and the injured lads who came back against Bradford all retain a place in the squad.
Wigan - Josh Charnley, Dom Crosby, Gil Dudson, Ben Flower, Darrell Goulding, James Greenwood, Harrison Hansen, Jack Hughes, Rhodri Lloyd, Lee Mossop, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Pat Richards, Matty Smith, Scott Taylor, Iain Thornley, Logan Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams.
Leigh -McNally, Maden, Littler, Gardner, Pownall, Ridyard, Beswick, Spencer, Penkywicz, Parker, Finnigan, Briscoe, Hopkins, Brierley, Ostick, Thornley, Taylor.
As it is a cup game, league positions go out of the window but I still think Wigan with all the superstars back will be too strong for their rivals and as such am going for a Wigan win by 40-12.
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