Super League 2020 Preview - Wigan Warriors

Despite an appalling start to 2019 Wigan got within 80 minutes of Old Trafford. Everything that could go wrong early in the season did so. In the days leading up to their opener at St Helens it was announced that Wigan would be docked two points for a breach of the salary cap. It was a revelation which almost completely overshadowed the season kick-off, something which our sport is proving itself to be extremely good at.

The points were reinstated in short order, but then came the news that the planned arrival of club legend Shaun Edwards as head coach for the 2020 season was not going to happen. Edwards chose to stay in rugby union, the only place in world sport less likely to endear him to this writer than Wigan. Adrian Lam, who had initially agreed to coach the side for a fixed term of 12 months, was soon appointed on a more permanent basis. But the problems didn’t end there, with Gabe Hamlin suspended in April after a failed drugs test.

All of this off-field chaos was clearly having an effect on the team. Wigan won only one of their first six league games and only three of their first 11. After that they lost only three more times in the regular season. An 18-12 win over Salford put Lam’s team within one win of Old Trafford and raised hopes that they could defend the Super League crown they had won a year earlier. With Saints cruising the league and Wigan showing late season form there were eerie parallels with what had transpired in 2018. Thankfully Salford hadn’t read the script, bouncing back from that first playoff defeat to the Warriors to pull off a stunning 28-4 victory too book their place in the Grand Final.

So far the build-up to 2020 has been somewhat smoother. Lam has strengthened his squad well with the eye-catching addition being last year’s Steve Prescott Man Of Steel Jackson Hastings. George Williams has left for Canberra Raiders but in Hastings Wigan have bagged themselves an arguably better player. There has been some suggestion that Hastings will form an all new halfback pairing with the speedy former Canterbury Bulldog Bevan French but Thomas Leuluai may still get the nod at 7 because firstly he has great experience and secondly French can be deployed in almost any other position along the back line. That will be especially useful since the Warriors’ best centre is still out injured in the shape of Oliver Gildart. Jake Bibby is another option there after he followed Hastings to Wigan from Salford. Dan Sarginson moves in the other direction in a deal that must make Salford fans feel like I felt when Liverpool got Antonio Nunez and £8million for Michael Owen. Bibby played a lot of his rugby on the wing for Ian Watson’s side but with Liam Marshall, Joe Burgess and a fit again Dom Manfredi also on the books the battle for playing time there is a tough one even taking into account Tom Davies’ move to homophobia’s Catalans Dragons.

Wigan’s front row looked in need of an overhaul last year. Tony Clubb and Ben Flower are now of an age where they should maybe start thinking about making their living relaying tales of their shithousery on the after dinner circuit. George Burgess is the new man tasked with providing a bit more impetus at prop. Burgess has been with South Sydney Roosters since the age of 18 but now, at the age of 27, should have some of his best years ahead of him. He is joined by Mitch Clark, an under-rated figure at Castleford who should be an upgrade on either Clubb or Flower. Young prospect Sammy Kibula has been allowed to join Warrington.

Liam Farrell missed a lot of rugby last year but if he can stay fit in this his testimonial year he could provide the pack with the leadership it needs. Sean O’Loughlin is still around but seems to play fewer and fewer games with each passing year. The recent fitness history of both Farrell and O’Loughlin mean that Willie Isa will probably be a key figure again, as will Sam Powell at hooker. Throw in the raw talents of Ollie Partington and Morgan Smithies and the Warriors pack might just have a useful blend of youth and experience.

The best Wigan sides of recent years have been built on defence and they will be hard to break down once again. Lam’s side made more tackles than any side in Super League in 2019 and conceded fewer points than everyone except Saints and Warrington. Their attack has been functional more than explosive of late, but still there were only three sides (Saints, Warrington and Salford) who racked up more points in the regular season. Hastings was the second highest metre maker last year behind Saints Tommy Makinson. That running threat from the halves, particularly if twinned with that of French, will provide a different problem for defences coming up against the Wigan attack this year.

A faster start than last season is an obvious presence on the pre-season wish list of most Warriors fans. Opening night brings a visit from Warrington in what will be an early test of both sides’ credentials. Round 2 sees Lam’s men travel to Castleford before their first ever league meeting with Toronto Wolfpack on February 13. Hull FC are at the DW Stadium in Round 4 before March opens with a trip to Huddersfield Giants. If Wigan can get a good start and establish themselves as contenders early, they may be able to launch a more credible bid for the League Leaders Shield and an easier path to Old Trafford.

Wigan look a stronger outfit in 2020 than they did a year ago and anything less than a top two spot and a place in the Grand Final will be viewed as a disappointment.