Wigan Warriors: The 18th Man - 'One player’s misfortune is another’s opportunity...'

David Bailey:

I think the phrase that sums it up is ‘bittersweet’. The Warriors put up another comfortable display, dispatching Toulouse 36-16 after a 15-minute spell tore the hosts apart. Jack Farrimond stepped up admirably in the halves with a scintillating display, which was tempered by the loss of Bevan French to a hamstring tear at the end of the game. Four months, 16 weeks, 112 days, 2,688 hours. Well, we have already shaved a few hours off that, haven’t we?

Let’s be honest, compared to the likes of Hull FC and Huddersfield Giants, we aren’t doing badly on the injury front, and we have yet to face a suspension, so we aren’t doing too badly. However, if I see Jai Field and French posting Insta stories in the Med in the next few weeks, I won’t be happy! Jokes aside, the key for Wigan is getting through the upcoming home games unscathed. Newly-promoted Bradford Bulls and York Knights, along with basement club Huddersfield, shouldn’t hold any fears. Despite Bradford and York having a good start to the season, if Wigan can’t win against them without French and Field, then we might as well book a few holidays when the Challenge Cup final and the Grand Final are on.

No disrespect intended, but Bradford are shorn of several players through injury and suspension, we are at home and should have enough quality in other areas of the park to compensate. If the pack stands up and gets a roll on, then the fullback on Friday should have plenty of time and space to collect the high kicks. I fully expect Noah Hodkinson to get the nod. There is enough disruption in the team without splitting up the prolific partnership of Zach Eckersley and Adam Keighran (13 tries between them already this season). Hodkinson has been working one-on-one with Field, and let’s be honest, wipe away the doom and gloom, and this is what Wigan has been built on. Young, hungry talent, learning their trade, being immersed in an excellent environment and having the skill and ability to perform at the highest level. Farrimond’s man-of-the-match performance is a testament to that. Hopefully, the winning streak will continue as we try to make our way back to Wembley.

Other news from the club was the confirmation that George Hirst has made his move to Castleford permanent. It’s disappointing he never got the chance to debut in cherry and white, and maybe there is some other reason behind it, as he always looked a handful. I can see him going well at Cas, but it was great to see one of our own return in Harvey Makin.

Finally, I have to mention the passing of Johnny Jackson. Part of the furniture at Wigan RL, despite being from over Billinge Hill. He spotted and helped develop some of the best young talent we have seen at the club, not least our current CEO. I hope he gets the respect and acknowledgement he deserves, and thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones.

Darren Wrudd:

I was all set to tell how last week’s game against Toulouse was a French lesson, but another rising star caught the spotlight. Young Farrimond played a great game and showed how his style of play fits so well with Harry Smith. Distributing the ball well and defending his patch with fierce attitude, he just appears as if from nowhere when required and accelerates and jinks, leaving defenders grasping at thin air.

He told me before the season began that he just wished to get as many games in as possible this year. Well, I bet he didn’t think they would come along as thick and fast as this. One player’s misfortune is another’s opportunity, and if he keeps his head and continues to improve, he will give Matt Peet a real selection headache later in the year.

Of course, we will miss French. A 16-week lay-off is a real blow, but he seems to be a strong character and has great spirit, so he will be eager to get back and do his bit. Before that, though, is the question of how we solve the fullback issue. I really hope that we can leave Eckersley on the wing as that partnership with Keighran is working so well, and just as Farrimond has his chance, I would love to see Hodkinson given a chance at the fullback role, a job he has performed well at in the reserves. At 20 years old, he is at a point in his career where he could really enjoy the exposure to the top tier.

The match last week was as expected, a non-stop and belligerent team are Toulouse, and they are very good value this year for Super League. There are going to be some tough games there this year, and I expect them to take some serious scalps if they continue to play like that. But we managed to win even though we were not as ruthless or composed as in the previous weeks. A little too much time not concentrating let the French break through in possession, and only our scramble defence kept us in front. We cannot afford that complacency going forward, or we will get burned, and when you have knockout games like the Challenge Cup, there are no second chances.

Bradford are playing a tough game this year, perhaps hardened by the rougher edges that the Championship has in its games. Add to that a few good signings that they have made, and it promises to be a good game. They have a couple of suspensions in their team, but there will still be 17 desperate players wanting to push their dream of Wembley as hard as we do. I think we need to get back to a disciplined defence with committed line speed and build pressure patiently behind a dominant pack. Sounds easy, really doesn’t it? But this is what the squad has trained for, and the fittest sides usually come out on top. No slip-ups, lads, we need our trophy back!

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