Injury blow for Wigan Warriors' young gun

He has undergone surgery after breaking in his hand playing for the reserves.

Darrell Goulding, who coaches the second-string side, had already seen enough to convince him their winter signing from the Broncos has a bright future.

“He’s been going very good. He’s getting better game by game and his attitude has been great,” said Goulding.

“We’ve seen straight away that he has something different about him.

“When you sign these lads, you know them as a player.

“But however much homework you do you don’t really know them as a person, and his attitude has been great, he’s settled in well, he’s excelling in his studies at Uclan.”

First-team players Mitch Clark, Joe Burgess and Morgan Escare were on the scoresheet as Wigan’s reserves claimed a 22-18 win against Leeds last Saturday. Senior prop Joe Bullock and halfback Jake Shorrocks also played in their third win in four matches.

Leeds took an 8-0 with two unconverted Liam Tindall tries before Wigan clicked into gear. Centre Sam Halsall swept over for a try which Escare converted to cut the gap to two points.

Kyle Evans and Clark exchanged tries before half-time to give Leeds a 14-12 lead at the break. Burgess – who has lost his first team spot since Dom Manfredi’s return – went over and though Evans poked the hosts back in front, Umyla Hanley’s try, converted by Escare, settled the contest.

“It was a bit of a scrappy game but it was a good test for the lads,” added Goulding, whose side are set to be in action next against Newcastle in a DW curtain-raiser before Wigan’s home game with Catalans on March 22.