'˜We've had three wrecked knees on that pitch'

The winger injured his left anterior cruciate ligament (knee) in last Friday’s 34-24 win at Widnes and will sit out the remainder of the campaign, starting with tonight’s visit of Salford. This is the third successive year Wane has last one of his players at the Vikings’ controversial ‘iPitch’, following Jake Shorrocks – who will play on loan for Salford tonight against his parent club – and Nick Gregson, who is now at Leigh.

Asked if this was a coincidence, Wane said: “I don’t know but they are all the same injury.

“We’ve had three shockers there, three wrecked knees. I don’t know whether it’s the pitch, or we’re just unlucky. I just don’t know how good the quality is.

“Whether it’s just luck, I don’t know, I’m not qualified to say that.

“But I just know I was gutted for Nick, gutted for Jake, and I’m gutted for Budgie, I’m just glad when the whistle finishes (during games at Widnes).”

Wane didn’t want to risk Sam Tomkins and Ben Flower - who have both had knee problems in the past, and return to his side tonight.

Tom Davies is also back in the team and will replace Burgess, who was hailed by Wane for his early-season form.

“He’s done an outstanding job, in the last few games he’s been the best winger in the country,” he said. “I’m gutted for him.

“At the end of the day, it’s one season he is going to miss, and I’m sure there is more in front of him.”

Asked how Burgess was coping, Wane replied: “He’s not so good, he’s gutted, he’s a young lad who naturally wants to play rugby and he’s had the full year taken out of him because of an unfortunate accident on a poor pitch.

“I’m personally devastated for him.

“We’ve got some good staff who will look after him and make sure that he’ll be mentally okay.”

Wane said Dom Manfredi trained yesterday but expects him to be at least two months away from challenging for a place in the side.

Manfredi has not played a senior match since the summer of 2016.