SL Preview: Wigan v Widnes (Fri)

Wigan host a Widnes side, buoyed by their win over Super League champions Leeds last week, on Friday night.

Both sides have won two games so far this season, though the Vikings have played a game more and in recent seasons have enjoyed some close match ups.

Two of the last three meetings have been decided by just two points, and in the last nine meetings the largest margin between the two sides is 16 points.

Widnes won twice at the DW Stadium in 2016 and come in to the game off the back of an encouraging start to the season where they have comfortably beaten Catalans and Leeds, and lost narrowly to Castleford and Warrington.

Wigan also went down to Warrington last week, and they will be keen to bounce back from that.

Joe Burgess is recalled to Shaun Wane’s 19-man squad.

The game goes ahead following two pitch inspections following the adverse weather conditions that has claimed four other Super League ties so far this weekend.

Widnes welcome back Greg Burke, Charly Runciman and Alex Gerrard from injury, in place of Jay Chapelhow, Chris Dean and Stanton Albert.

Stats:

Wigan’s Joe Burgess has scored tries in his last four games against Widnes (1-1-2-2).

Super League summary

Wigan won 16
Widnes won 6
1 draw
Wigan highest score: 62-4 (H, 2013) (also widest margin)
Widnes highest score: 37-36 (H, 2012) (Widest margin: 24-10, H, 2014)

Wigan 19-man squad: Bateman, Burgess, Clubb, Davies, Escare, Farrell, Flower, Gildart, Isa, Leuluai, Marshall, Navarrete, O’Loughlin, Powell, Sutton, Tautai, J Tomkins, S Tomkins, Williams.

Widnes 19-man squad: Burke, Cahill, Chamberlain, T Chapelhow, Craven, Gerrard, Gilmore, Hanbury, Heremaia, Inu, Leuluai, Marsh, Mellor, Olbison, Runciman, Walker, W Albert, Whitley, Wilde.