Wane taking care with Cas prep

A virus caused havoc last week, with only nine of 34 players able to train on the Thursday, with a session cancelled on Friday, prior to Sunday’s drubbing at Wakefield.

“It’s hard for me to get it because I’ve never had it, but all the medical staff are saying we need to be careful,” said Wane.

A number of players took to the field at Belle Vue feeling the effects of the illness, and Wane doesn’t want the hangover to bleed into Friday’s game.

“It took a lot out of the players,” said Wane.

“We have to be smart with the players – it’s a short day, get home and rest, no shopping with the missus or walking the dogs. I think every day they will improve.”

Wane is hopeful of having some extra bodies to call on when he picks

his squad to face Daryl Powell’s men, who will arrive at the DW on the back of a comeback win against Widnes last weekend.

Dom Crosby has recovered from off-season hip surgery and has declared himself available to play, while John Bateman is still recovering from the virus.

But Liam Farrell, who missed Sunday’s defeat through a ban, is struggling with a rib injury, and none of the other players who missed last weekend look likely to return.

“If any Super League club had been in the same situation they would have struggled but it is what it is,” added Wane.

“It comes with the territory with people seeming to enjoy seeing us go through these kind of spells but we’re at the back end of it and we’re getting players back.”

And Wane also thinks the enjoyment fans of other clubs will have taken from the manner of Wigan’s most recent defeat will only act to spur his players on.

“They were very intense and very uptight in the meeting this morning because they know things which are being said about us and it’s not us as a club,” he said.

“It’s the worst job in the world when you’re not feeling well because there is no painless way to play rugby league.”