Taking The Two In 2022: Champions Collide At The DW

There is just under two days to go until the opening of Super League XIX and the excitement intensified at the first squad announcements of the year as Wigan and Huddersfield face off in what I like to call 'Collision of the Champions'.

The game is being played a week before the rest of Round 1 due to Wigan's involvement in the World Club Challenge against Sydney Roosters but the showpiece on the 22nd will be far from their minds as they begin the defence of their Super League crown against 2013 League Leaders Huddersfield who will have fond memories of Wigan in February having defeated them in the season opener two years ago.

Huddersfield will be looking to avenge their last meeting with Wigan which saw them lose 22-8 at the John Smith's Stadium back in September in the first round of the play offs but will take solace from the fact that they have won five of their last six visits to the DW (courtesy of @Wiganrlfans.)

Both sides go into the match on the back of a successful week with Wigan defeating St Helens 28-16 and Huddersfield victorious over Hull KR 20-18 and as a result are both able to name such strong squads with the exception being Josh Charnley for Wigan for whom this game is too soon in his recovery from hernia surgery.

25 John Bateman, 1 Matty Bowen, 32 Joe Burgess, 24 Tony Clubb, 17 Dom Crosby, 12 Liam Farrell, 10 Ben Flower, 5 Anthony Gelling, 3 Darrell Goulding, 6 Blake Green, 14 Jack Hughes, 9 Michael McIlorum, 13 Sean O'Loughlin, 22 Eddy Pettybourne, 19 Sam Powell, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Scott Taylor, 4 Iain Thornley.
Read more at http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=9021&type=1#Litw4haLMTZJmGdD.99

Wigan - John Bateman, Matty Bowen, Joe Burgess, Tony Clubb, Dom Crosby, Liam Farrell, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Darrell Goulding, Blake Green, Jack Hughes, Michael McIlorum, Sean O'Loughlin, Eddy Pettybourne, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Scott Taylor, Iain Thornley.

Huddersfield - Scott Grix, Jermaine McGillvary, Leroy Cudjoe, Joe Wardle, Aaron Murphy, Danny Brough, Luke Robinson, Eorl Crabtree,Shaun Lunt, Craig Kopczak, Brett Ferres, Chris Bailey, Michael Lawrence, Larne Patrick, Ukuma Ta’ai, Kyle Wood, Jodie Broughton, Antonio Kaufusi, Anthony Mullally.

As is the first test for both sides, I predict a close game so predict Wigan 24 Huddersfield 18.

Taking The Two In 2022

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Champions Collide At The DW

No comments:

Post a Comment