Charnley in the frame for Hull clash

Josh Charnley is set to come back into the frame this weekend.
Josh CharnleyJosh Charnley
Josh Charnley

The winger has missed Wigan’s last two games - against Brisbane and Salford - with an unspecified facial injury.

But coach Shaun Wane last night confirmed the 24-year-old should be fit for Friday night’s clash with Hull FC.

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His availability will ramp up the battle for places in the Warriors’ backline. Teenager Oliver Gildart has deputised for Charnley in his absence.

And while the make-shift winger was disappointed with his display in the World Club Series loss to the Broncos, he made amends last Thursday night.

He showed great footwork for both of his first-half tries which set Wigan on their way to an edgy 20-16 win.

Gildart also did a good job in quelling the threat of Salford’s blockbusting winger Justin Carney.

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He has never previously played on the wing and is more comfortable at centre – but Wane praised both Anthony Gelling and Dan Sarginson after Thursday’s win.

And Dom Manfredi has been in strong form on the opposite flank, scoring the decisive match-sealing try against Salford which would provide one of the major post-game talking points.

Red Devils coach Ian Watson expressed his disappointment a knock-on by Taulima Tautai at the play-the-ball had been missed by officials. But yesterday, former referee Stuart Cummings said Wigan would still have won the game if the incident had been seen by George Stokes, as the ball was dislodged by Salford’s Jordan Walne.

He explained in his League Weekly column: “Walne clearly... knocks the ball out of Tautai’s hands. The referee misses this ball steal which should have resulted in a penalty to Wigan and not a knock-on and scrum to Salford.

“This would have been a guaranteed two points for the Warriors and, with it, the victory.”