Wane's new plans to survive Jungle

Wigan head to Castleford aiming to move level at the top of Super League with Hull FC.

The Warriors changed the dimensions of their Orrell training pitch this week to match those at the Mend-a-hose Jungle Stadium.

Wane has never taken such action before but felt compelled to act following last season’s 42-14 mauling - which he described as the “worst day” of his coaching career.

He said: “It’s the first time we’ve changed the dimensions of the pitch - I introduced it because we got our backsides kicked last year.

“It’s a huge advantage they have that ground, the pitch being so small.

“I wanted to emphasises this is different, they need to be on.”

Castleford’s pitch is thought to be the most compact in the top-flight.

Standard rugby league pitches are 100m between trylines - but rules allow to be as short as 88m, and as narrow as 55m from touchlines (the standard is 68m).

“They have a ‘10-metres’ on each side of halfway which is about four-metres - it’s very different,” continued Wane.

“And I wanted to emphasis to the players that if you give a penalty away, your defending on your own line.

“We’ve practiced everything - the kicking, especially - so they know what to expect.”

Castleford backed-up a thumping win at Leeds to beat Warrington 34-14 on Saturday - which Wane described as the best performance of the Magic Weekend.

But Wigan will be in confident mood following their own victory, a 40-8 thumping of Leeds which kept them in the mix at the top of a congested Super League ladder.

“They’re in really good spirits,” added Wane.

“This is an important game for us.

“Castleford are very confident and they’re on top of their game, and they do attack in a different way to many teams.”

Ryan Hampshire - on loan from Wigan - is in the Tigers’ 19-man squad, though he has struggled to hold down a place. “When he goes to another club Daryl (Powell) is in charge, and it’s up to him,” added Wane. “He’s still played more than had he stayed here.”