Wigan Warriors v Hull KR: First Utility Super League preview
Last Updated: 01/05/15 10:28pm
Revenge will be in the air when Wigan face Hull KR in Friday’s First Utility Super League clash at the DW Stadium.
The Robins came from 20-6 down to inflict on the Warriors their first Super League defeat of the season at the KC Lightstream Stadium in March, and Wigan coach Shaun Wane says his team are still smarting from that 22-20 loss.
"Hull KR are playing well this year," Wane said. "They've beaten some big teams - obviously they beat us at Hull KR and that's something we need to take into this game because that loss hurt us a lot.
"It's a bit of payback, the players want to put that right."
Wane has been forced into changes for the Friday’s fixture. Anthony Gelling is facing two months on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring in two places against Wakefield, so Joel Tomkins is expected to switch to centre.
John Bateman will take over Tomkins’ second-row spot and Larne Patrick is recalled at loose forward after sitting out the last two matches.
Wigan have put together a three-match winning run to climb up to third in the table, while Rovers have suffered back-to-back defeats to drop into the bottom four.
The visitors are without goalkicking winger Josh Mantellato, the league's leading points-scorer, for the first time due to his involvement as best man at his brother’s wedding.
The club were made aware of this situation before he signed in November 2014 and Mantellato flew to Australia after Saturday’s game against Catalans to take part in the ceremony.
He will be back in England this Sunday and available for selection for the game against Wakefield.
Second rower James Donaldson returns from suspension for the Robins and hooker Shaun Lunt is back after missing the loss at Catalans to attend the birth of his second son.
Chris Chester's men have a woeful record on the road this year but Wane is mindful of their potent attack, superbly orchestrated by new Australian half-backs Terry Campese and Albert Kelly.
"Campese is a great player," Wane said. "He's doing a great job in marshalling them around the field. We need to put him under pressure and, if you do that, you put Hull KR under pressure.
"He is a very smart professional so it's a challenge for us. Physically they are a bigger team than us and obviously they've got two of our old players in Greg Burke and Darrell Goulding in there so they know pretty much what we do."
Wigan Warriors: John Bateman, Matty Bowen, Joe Burgess, Tony Clubb, Dom Crosby, Liam Farrell, Ben Flower, Ryan Hampshire, Dom Manfredi, Michael McIlorum, Lee Mossop, Larne Patrick, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins, George Williams.
Hull KR: Maurice Blair, John Boudebza, Greg Burke, Terry Campese, Ben Cockayne, Kieran Dixon, James Donaldson, Sonny Esslemont, James Green, Graeme Horne, Albert Kelly, Kevin Larroyer, Shaun Lunt, Tyrone McCarthy, Aaron Ollett, Ken Sio, Dane Tilse, Adam Walker, Kris Welham.
Watch Wigan Warriors v Hull KR live on Sky Sports 3 on Friday from 7.30pm