Warrington forced into six changes for Catalans trip due to injury

   01/09/2016

UPDATE
Tony Smith has told TotalRL that Joe Westerman will also miss the trip to Perpignan at the weekend.

He has picked up a calf injury, similar to hooker Daryl Clark, and Ryan Bailey will now play instead. “Ryan has put his hand up to play for us,” Smith said. “There’s still six changes as Joe isn’t going to be available now, though due to a slight tear in his calf.”

 

ORIGINAL STORY
Warrington Wolves coach Tony Smith has been forced to make six changes to his side for this weekend’s trip to Catalans – with a host of big names missing out due to injury.

The Wolves have been left to count the cost of last weekend’s Challenge Cup final defeat to Hull, with the big news – as revealed in this Monday’s League Express – that forward Ben Westwood will be out for the rest of the season.

Elsewhere, Chris Sandow is set to be out for a number of weeks with a knee medial strain, and Smith also travels to Perpignan without Kurt Gidley, Rhys Evans, Ryan Bailey and Daryl Clark.

He is hopeful that quartet will return for next week’s home clash with Widnes, but for now, Smith is hopeful the club’s fringe players will stake their claim for a place long-term with an impressive showing in Perpignan this weekend.

“We’ve had six changes forced upon us but at the same time that’s six fresh faces and an opportunity for them to stake claims for games further down the track,” Smith said.

“The boys who are there from the weekend are all keen to get back on the horse and try to put aside some of the feeling of defeat and the new boys are all keen because they know there’s some big games coming up. So they’re all pretty motivated at the moment.”