Wigan travel to Hull FC looking to secure fourth place

Wigan Warriors travel to the MKM Stadium knowing that a win against Hull FC could secure their spot in fourth place depending on other results.

They face the Black and Whites who need a miracle to reach the top six after another defeat, this time by Leeds Rhinos at Magic Weekend.

Wigan were also defeated in Newcastle by Warrington, losing 6-10. After the narrow defeat to the Wire, Adrian Lam isn’t playing down the importance of Saturday’s clash in order to clinch fourth

“It’s been the narrative over the second part of the season but we’ve got that in our own hands. It’s important we turn up this week and have an 80-minute performance.

“We’ve worked hard to get this team back to having a semi-final mentality.

“This part of the year is more about mentality and mindset.”

Lam also believes his side are missing some execution in attacking areas currently, but as it develops he has no concerns, and his focus this week has very much been on his own side.

“What motivates me is getting better. I feel like we’re the striker who is missing the goal. It’s the best analogy at the moment. As a striker we just have to keep working hard, doing our extras and the ball will start to hit the back of the net.

“They’ve got a strong squad, but my focus is on us having a strong performance more than focusing on the opposition.

“To play Hull will be a tough game but its exactly what we need.”

The Warriors head coach has named an unchanged 21-man squad for Saturday’s trip to East Yorkshire, meaning Oliver Gildart will be back in contention after a late withdrawal with a groin strain at Magic Weekend.

“We’ll give him right up to kick off. He’s part of this puzzle where we need to attack better and there’s no better-attacking centre in the game when he’s at his best. We’ll make the decision on the captain’s run.”

Loose-forward Morgan Smithies echoed the thoughts of his head coach ahead of the game;

“We’ll keep improving as we reach the play-offs, but we’re by no means the finished article.

“We’re not happy with the loss but we’re happy with the direction we’re heading in.”

“We’re confident heading into the Hull game, they’ll be up for it. It’ll be another similar game to the previous two, the middles will be up for it.”

As for Hull FC, their bad run of form continued with a defeat at St James’ Park, as Kruise Leeming’s drop goal saw them defeated by the smallest of margins by Leeds despite being ahead by 10 points until late in the second period.

Brett Hodgson’s side must win both of their remaining fixtures to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs, as well as needing other results to go their way. However, Hodgson is focusing on how his side must take care of their part of the bargain.

“We’re not stressing in any way about other results because that’s all out of our hands,”

“We can only control our own involvements in the game and our belief within the group and get out and perform.”

“Wigan aren’t playing superbly at the moment but they’re still knocking off wins and they’re very tough to play against because they hang in the contest for 80 minutes and that’s something that potentially we’ve lacked in a number of weeks in the past couple of months.”

The game at the MKM has been chosen as FC’s fan day, and as a result a larger crowd is expected, something the head coach has touched on.

“Hopefully it will be a big crowd because we need to perform to make sure that our crowd finish the home season in the way that they deserve,”

“It’s been a disrupted couple of years but it’s the last chance for the supporters to get out for the season and show their colours and support for the players and in return we need to put in a performance to embrace the crowd and bring them into the game.”

As for the Black and Whites’ 21-man squad, they will be without Danny Houghton and Adam Swift for the remainder of the campaign. Houghton has sustained a wrist injury whilst Swift, who has been one of FC’s best performers this season has burnt his foot in an accident. As a result, youngsters Jude Ferreira and Jacob Hookem have took their places in the squad.

Jordan Lane missed last weekend’s defeat with a knee problem but is included, and so is Jamie Shaul despite an MCL strain.

This will be the third meeting of these sides so far, with Wigan victorious in the Super League meeting at the DW Stadium by 16 points to 14, whereas FC knocked the Warriors out of the Challenge Cup at Headingley, winning 20-10.

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