Our panel of Wigan Warriors experts look ahead to the mouth-watering Super League semi-final tie against local rivals Leigh Leopards for a spot at Old Trafford.
Glynn Bradshaw:
With only 24 hours till the Battle of the Borough, this promises to be an exciting clash.
If it’s half as fantastic as the Saints Wire game, we’re in for a treat, as it was one of the season’s best games for me, along with our home game versus Hull KR.
Leigh are in terrific shape and, after a disappointing start to the season, have finished strongly with a fine win against Salford last week, against the odds, in another enjoyable encounter.
They will undoubtedly miss Charnley, but they are a dangerous team with their front-row in commanding form, notably Ipape, whose running game from dummy-half must be controlled.
I am also a fan of Dwyer, who has his detractors, but I believe he is deadly when he comes in and faces tired defenders.
Obviously, Lam and the underrated Gareth O’Brien pose a threat, but I believe we can target certain players in their team, such as Moylan, who is good with the ball but problematic defensively, as well as wingers Hanley and McIntosh.
The weather prognosis for Saturday has altered again, with a dry evening predicted, which should benefit us because we have more pace on the side.
I believe our team will be the same as last time, but with Miski filling in for Eckersley, perhaps our week off, our first one, will benefit us and rest some tired bodies.
Expect Leigh to come out quickly on the defensive line, like they did last time at our home; we just need to be patient and survive the storm.
A magnificent atmosphere is in store with a strong Leigh contingent in the North Stand; let’s hope the Warriors supporters are loud and proud, and fingers crossed we can prevail and return to Old Trafford the following week to face the winners of KR and Wire, which promises to be another excellent match.
I, for one, cannot wait.
David Bailey:
As the Wigan Warriors reach the home stretch, there are plenty reasons to be positive. Only eighty minutes separate the club from an immediate return to Old Trafford and the opportunity to compete for the title of Back-to-Back Champions. Another opportunity for Matt Peet and his team to do something the Warriors have not done in the summer. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but Radlinski and Peet want to establish a new dynasty and age of success that will rival the glory days of the past.
Leigh Leopards, who are riding high after a fantastic end-of-season run and a hard-fought victory over Salford, stand in their way. While the contest had the intensity of a play-off game, the quality in the first half was notably low, and the Leopards will need to stop pushing passes and rushing plays if they are to compete with Wigan. The Leopards will also face injury issues. Josh Charnley has been ruled out due to a nasty-looking fall, but after seeing him immobile and stretchered out, most are relieved it wasn’t a serious injury. Frankie Halton’s absence is mitigated by the return of Kai O’Donnell, however the Warriors will undoubtedly put his stomach to the test every time he touches the ball.
With an unchanged roster and a club that is only getting back into gear, stopping Wigan will need a mammoth effort. If Leigh does it, they well deserve it. That being said, Wigan have appeared in every major game since their devastating Challenge Cup semi-final defeat in 2023. The group simply exudes confidence and unity, and with a fresh French and Field, they will be threatening for the entire 80 minutes.
With Mike Cooper’s retirement on medical grounds, no more departures from the club have been confirmed as of yet. It would be wonderful if they could be recognized on Saturday if any additional players follow Cooper and the yet-to-be-announced Hampshire in leaving the squad.
The club should be applauded for giving the last several weeks a major match sense. No doubt, it improves the players’ muscle memory when it comes to the business end, and the reappearance of the light up posts has fans in a frenzy. Let’s hope they’re a good omen and we receive the same result as the previous opponents we faced in black when they were present. Hopefully, this isn’t the last of the 18th man contributions this season, and we can have one last hurrah at Old Trafford.
Darren Wrudd:
This week’s Rugby League awards shortlists have been really interesting to observe. Junior Nsemba has a well-deserved candidacy for young player of the year, while Matt Peet is in good company as coach of the year. I was surprised that we did not have at least one player shortlisted for Man of Steel, but Wigan couldn’t have won everything this year, could they? Kaide Ellis and Luke Thompson were both strong candidates for the prize, having demonstrated consistency and excellent quality throughout the year. I can’t see past Marc Sneyd as the winner of the three nominees, and he’ll deserve it.
I enjoyed watching the two quarter-finals last week, and whilst Warrington won by the smallest of margins, I believed they deserved it far more on the night. Their prize is to go scrap with Hull KR and beat lumps into each other; I don’t care who wins, but I’d like to see Sam Powell and Toby King in the final.
That Leigh will be visiting the best stadium in the borough tomorrow sets the stage for an epic match, and I can’t wait for the buildup to begin and the atmosphere to erupt. It’s a shame Josh Charnley will miss out, but it’s far more vital that he recovers from that nasty-looking neck injury.
I know it’s an old cliché, but form really does go out the window in these games, and on the night, it’s all about who controls their own game and handles the pressure of the moment. We have lots of experience and big game players on our team, and how we manage pressure will be critical to our success and progression to the Grand Final. I’m already nervous, but I’m confident in the caliber of the squad and game plan that Matt Peet and his staff will put together.
The night should be a fantastic event all around, with live music beginning at 4.30 p.m. with pyrotechnics and other surprises to greet the players on the field.
All we have to do now is play as we know we can and earn a spot in the final to repeat as winners; best of luck, fellas.
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