Matt Peet hints at potential Wigan debutant for Huddersfield clash

Wigan coach Matt Peet has hinted that he will give a debut to a young player in Thursday’s Challenge Cup final dress rehearsal against Huddersfield.

Peet has made five changes to his Warriors squad that beat St Helens in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup last week for Thursday’s Super League match against Huddersfield, who they will meet in the Cup final on May 28.

Peet will rest Liam Marshall, John Bateman, Morgan Smithies, Liam Byrne and Jai Field. Umyla Hanley, Matty Nicholson, Logan Astley and Jack Bibby come into the squad as well as the inclusion of Willie Isa, who was a late omission from last week’s squad.

James McDonnell, who has impressed in the Championship whilst on loan at Leigh, has also been included in Peet’s squad.

Matt Peet makes debutant hint

Nicholson, Astley and Jake Bibby are yet to make their first team debuts for Wigan, and Peet hinted at one of them making their first team bow.

Peet said: “I won’t give too much into the team but there is a chance there’ll be a debut but there’s a few lads who might just come for the experience.

“There’s people playing for places and I’m hoping that we want to set some standards as a club.

“Both teams will be looking at the squads and who is going to play their way into the cup squads in the coming weeks.

“There are people who have been managing niggles so it is not just a case of rest. It is managing ongoing bumps and bruises.

“There is going to be opportunities in the future. I don’t think our squad is going to change massively for the final. People like James (McDonnell) are playing to show that they should be playing more often.”

Peet confirmed that Bevan French will play at full-back in the absence of Man of Steel leader Field.

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