Warriors Face High Flying Tigers

Wigan travel to Castleford on Sunday afternoon for their first away game of the 2014 season and to the surprise of many it is the Tigers who are the higher placed in the Super League table after an amazing start that sees them joint top with three wins while Wigan sit seventh with a single win.

Last year's meeting saw a last-gasp win for Wigan with Chris Tuson scoring a vital try in a 22-28 win after a really exciting 80 minutes that saw Wigan lead 4-22 before being pegged back to 22 all with a few minutes to go before O'Loughlin found Tuson for the crucial try.

Wigan will of course be wary of Castleford but even more so after the Tigers' brilliant start to 2014 which has seen wins against Bradford, Catalans and Hull KR with the tries of Richard Owen including a hat-trick last week being something for Wigan to prevent.

Castleford will be wary themselves of Wigan's wing attack that proved vital in last weeks win against Wakefield with young wingers Joe Burgess and Dom Manfredi both scoring but the return of 2013 top scorer Josh Charnley will bolster the attack and could prove to vital to Wigan's hopes of a win.

As I mentioned, Wigan recall Josh Charnley alongside Matty Bowen and Dan Sarginson while Eddy Pettybourne returns from suspension while Castleford make just one change with Nathan Massey replacing Jamie Ellis.

Castleford- Kirk Dixon, Michael Shenton, Justin Carney, Luke Dorn, Marc Sneyd, Andy Lynch, Adam Milner, Craig Huby, Grant Millington, Weller Hauraki, Nathan Massey, Daryl Clark, Oliver Holmes,Frankie Mariano, Scott Wheeldon, Richard Owen, Michael Channing, Dan Fleming, Liam Finn.

25 John Bateman, 1 Matty Bowen, 32 Joe Burgess, 2 Josh Charnley, 24 Tony Clubb, 17 Dom Crosby, 12 Liam Farrell, 10 Ben Flower, 5 Anthony Gelling, 6 Blake Green, 14 Jack Hughes, 28 Jordan James, 9 Michael McIlorum, 22 Eddy Pettybourne, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Scott Taylor, 4 Iain Thornley, 15 Logan Tomkins
Read more at http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=9126&type=1#qdigDlpEaomH5vEz.99

25 John Bateman, 1 Matty Bowen, 32 Joe Burgess, 2 Josh Charnley, 24 Tony Clubb, 17 Dom Crosby, 12 Liam Farrell, 10 Ben Flower, 5 Anthony Gelling, 6 Blake Green, 14 Jack Hughes, 28 Jordan James, 9 Michael McIlorum, 22 Eddy Pettybourne, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Scott Taylor, 4 Iain Thornley, 15 Logan Tomkins
Read more at http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=9126&type=1#qdigDlpEaomH5vEz.99

25 John Bateman, 1 Matty Bowen, 32 Joe Burgess, 2 Josh Charnley, 24 Tony Clubb, 17 Dom Crosby, 12 Liam Farrell, 10 Ben Flower, 5 Anthony Gelling, 6 Blake Green, 14 Jack Hughes, 28 Jordan James, 9 Michael McIlorum, 22 Eddy Pettybourne, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Scott Taylor, 4 Iain Thornley, 15 Logan Tomkins
Read more at http://www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.aspx?id=9126&type=1#qdigDlpEaomH5vEz.99

Wigan - 25 John Bateman, 1 Matty Bowen, 32 Joe Burgess, 2 Josh Charnley, 24 Tony Clubb, 17 Dom Crosby, 12 Liam Farrell, 10 Ben Flower, 5 Anthony Gelling, 6 Blake Green, 14 Jack Hughes, 28 Jordan James, 9 Michael McIlorum, 22 Eddy Pettybourne, 23 Dan Sarginson, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Scott Taylor, 4 Iain Thornley, 15 Logan Tomkins

I predict a close game but Wigan to edge a win but hopefully one less frantic than last year and as such I am saying Castleford 24 Wigan 30.