Wigan Warriors look to build on Easter Monday win as they face struggling Salford Red Devils

An all-Greater Manchester clash awaits on Sunday as Wigan Warriors face Salford Red Devils.

Wigan will be looking to build on last week’s win against Wakefield Trinity. The Warriors comfortably beat Wakefield Trinity 54-10 last time out thanks to tries from Bevan French, Brad Singleton, Abbas Miski, Harry Smith, Jai Field, and Cade Cust.

But Matt Peet’s side did suffer a 24-4 derby day defeat to St Helens on Good Friday.

Before Good Friday’s clash with Saints, Wigan had only lost one game in the season to Catalan Dragons 28-0.

Head Coach Peet said that this would be a tricky game ahead with Salford and warned his players of the ruthless kicking game they have. “It’s a tricky game, the players that Salford possess particularly the talent they’ve got, the skill, the flair and the ruthless kicking game they’ve got points can come very quickly.”

“Salford have threats and we’ve got to meet them energy wise and physicality first and foremost.”

Salford Red Devils on the other hand have been inconsistent this season with only one win in their last five games. That came four rounds ago against the Leeds Rhinos and since then have lost three games by a score of 30 or more.

This Salford side is certainly a shadow of the side that reached the Grand Final three years ago and haven’t built on that success like Catalan have.

The Red Devils have a tough next two games with Wigan and St Helens coming up for them.

Points are necessary for Salford who aren’t safe from a potential drop to the Championship.

What doesn’t help is uncertainty of where Salford will play in years to come as Salford City and Sale Sharks want to buy the AJ Bell Stadium in a joint agreement.

Team News

It was announced this morning that Zac Hardaker has left Wigan with immediate effect to return to his family Home in Yorkshire.

He was recently dropped from the side for disciplinary issues and “falling below the club’s standards”.

That leaves Wigan a man light heading into the game with Salford.

Iain Thornley and Liam Marshall return to the squad replacing James McDonnell and Sam Powell who has started his six-game ban.

Salford name two changes to their 21-man squad against Catalan. Ryan Lannon and Amir Borouh drop out for Jack Wells and Alex Gerrard.

Head-to-Head

Wigan have the upper hand with meetings against Salford Red Devils. The Warriors have won 45 games against their opponents with Salford winning 8 including the 2019 playoffs.

The two have already met this season in the Challenge Cup with the Warriors winning 20-0 over Salford thanks to tries from Liam Byrne, Liam Marshall, and John Bateman.

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