Liam Marshall: Warriors are ready to fly

Liam Marshall insists there will be 'no moaning' about tiredness when he heads to Warrington tonight '“ looking to maintain an impressive strike-rate.
Liam Marshall has scored four tries in two Super League gamesLiam Marshall has scored four tries in two Super League games
Liam Marshall has scored four tries in two Super League games

Wigan will be thrust back into Super League action this evening, just four days after arriving back in England and only six days since they played South Sydney.

But Shaun Wane enforces a ‘no excuses’ policy and Marshall said: “We’ve had a long trip but there’s no moaning, no complaining – we knew what we’d be up for and everyone is ready for it.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Marshall announced himself on the big stage in this corresponding fixture last year, claiming a four-try blitz in front of the Sky Sports cameras just a week after his senior debut.

And with a hat-trick against the Wolves at the Magic Weekend – and a touchdown in Challenge Cup thriller– he has already chalked up eight tries against their derby rivals.

“I think it’s become a bit of a thing, me scoring against them but I’ve dropped lucky,” said the humble 21-year-old.

“Hopefully that fortune carries on.”

He has claimed two tries in both of Wigan’s Super League matches so far this season and got the nod ahead of Joe Burgess for the wing spot.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dan Sarginson also misses out, though Wane revealed his absence is due to a shoulder injury.

Fit-again John Bateman will take his place at centre – a position he filled for England during the World Cup.

But Wane admits he would have preferred one of the other centres in his squad – Liam Forsyth, Jack Higginson or James Worthington – to be pushing for a spot instead.

“If I had been Wayne Bennett, I wouldn’t have picked John as a centre,” Wane said. “I’m probably going to do the same.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I’m looking at centres behind Dan Sarginson in our squad, and I’m putting my staff under pressure to find out why I’m not putting them straight in, if I’m being brutally honest.

“It should be straight-forward and it’s not. I’m not prepared to risk one of them at the moment.

“I went watching the reserves at Keighley last night and Jack Higginson killed it, to the extent I’m feeling good about putting him in in the next few weeks.

“(But) I won’t have dead wood at this club and when they’re not challenging, when they’re not making me pick them, they’re under pressure, my staff are under pressure.”

Kick-off is at 7.45pm.