THE BATTLE of the Borough returns on Friday night, with Leigh hoping to avenge their 54-0 defeat at the hands of Wigan earlier in the season.
Occupying third and fifth respectively ahead of the fixture, both sides are firmly in the play-off race despite having suffered a spate of injuries.
Adrian Lam has made two enforced changes to his Leigh squad, with Edwin Ipape missing out through concussion protocols, whilst Frankie Halton has a suspected torn pec that could spell the end of his season.
The pair are replaced by Jacob Alick-Wiencke and Andy Badrock, who is recalled from his loan with Widnes Vikings.
David Armstrong also makes the squad despite picking up a knock during last week’s win over Warrington.
Wigan boss Matt Peet makes one change following last week’s win over St Helens, with Josh Cartwright coming in for fellow youngster George Marsden.
Leigh’s Joe Ofahengaue and Wigan’s Liam Marshall are both in line to make their 250th career appearances.
SQUADS
Leigh: 1 David Armstrong, 4 Umyla Hanley, 5 Josh Charnley, 6 Adam Cook, 7 Lachlan Lam, 8 Joe Ofahengaue, 10 Robbie Mulhern, 12 Owen Trout, 13 Isaac Liu, 15 Jacob Alick-Wiencke, 16 Matt Davis, 17 Liam Horne, 19 Innes Senior, 21 Gareth O’Brien, 22 Jack Hughes, 23 Andy Badrock, 24 Ben McNamara, 25 Louis Brogan, 28 Ryan Brown, 29 Will Brough, 31 Lazarus Vaalepu
Ins: 15 Jacob Alick-Wiencke, 23 Andy Badrock
Outs: 9 Edwin Ipape, 11 Frankie Halton
Wigan: 1 Jai Field, 2 Zach Eckersley, 3 Adam Keighran, 4 Jake Wardle, 5 Liam Marshall, 6 Bevan French, 7 Harry Smith, 8 Ethan Havard, 9 Brad O’Neill, 10 Luke Thompson, 13 Kaide Ellis, 14 Sam Walters, 15 Patrick Mago, 17 Oliver Partington, 20 Sam Eseh, 25 Taylor Kerr, 28 Noah Hodkinson, 33 George O’Loughlin, 37 Josh Cartwright, 38 Austin Daniel, 41 Shea O’Connor
Ins: 37 Josh Cartwright
Outs: 36 George Marsden
Referee: Chris Kendall
STATS
Wigan’s ADAM KEIGHRAN has scored points in his last 10 games against Leigh (9 for the Warriors, 1 for Catalans Dragons).
His scoring streak against the Leopards began with five goals in Catalans’ 30-14 away win on 19 August, 2023.
Last ten meetings:
Wigan 54, Leigh 0 (SLR3, 26/2/26)
Wigan 18, Leigh 6 (SLSF, 3/10/25)
Leigh 18, Wigan 8 (SLR17, 4/7/25)
Wigan 36, Leigh 28 (SLR11, 16/5/25)
Wigan 0, Leigh 1 (aet) (SLR1, 13/2/25)
Wigan 38, Leigh 0 (SLSF, 5/10/24)
Wigan 28, Leigh 6 (SLR2, 6/8/24)
Wigan 24, Leigh 6 (SLR16, 5/7/24)
Leigh 12, Wigan 40 (SLR7, 4/4/24)
Leigh 6, Wigan 10 (SLR27, 22/9/23)
Super League summary
Leigh won 3
Wigan won 16 (includes wins in 2024 and 2025 play-offs)
Leigh highest score: 50-34 (H, 2017) (also widest margin)
Wigan highest score: 62-6 (H, 2005) (also widest margin)
JOE OFAHENGAUE needs one appearance to reach 250 for his career.
– 34 for Leigh Leopards (2025-2026)
– 41 for Parramatta Eels (2023-2025)
– 56 for Wests Tigers (2021-2023)
– 108 for Brisbane Broncos (2015-2020)
– 7 for Tonga (2015-2019)
– 3 for Queensland (2019, 2021)
Leigh’s JOSH CHARNLEY needs one try to move ahead of MICK SULLIVAN into stand-alone 20th place in the list of all-time scorers in the British game.
– 19 Paul Newlove 347
– 20 = Mick Sullivan 342
Josh Charnley 342
– 22 Garry Schofield 330
– 23 Shaun Edwards 327
LIAM MARSHALL needs one appearance to reach 250 for his career.
– 226 for Wigan Warriors (2017-2026)
– 22 for Swinton Lions (2016, loan)
– 1 for England (2024)
BEVAN FRENCH needs seven points to reach 500 for Wigan Warriors.
– 123 tries, 1 field goal (147 appearances, 2019-2026)