WIGAN WARRIORS coach Matt Peet says he is happy with his options as he tries to ensure the absence of star players Jai Field and Bevan French doesn’t derail a flying start to the season.
Fullback Field, 28, has been floored by a bout of appendicitis and is recovering from the surgery which is expected to sideline him for another fortnight at least.
Meanwhile the Warriors are set to be without his fellow Australian French, 30, for around four months due to a torn hamstring.
French picked up his injury during the 36-16 win over Toulouse in France, for which he switched from stand-off to take Field’s slot as Peet’s league leaders made it four wins from four at the start of their bid to reclaim the title from Hull KR.
Attention now turns to the Challenge Cup and a fourth-round home clash with Bradford Bulls on Friday, where Peet’s fullback decision is likely to be between Noah Hodkinson, a 20-year-old academy product who is yet to make his senior debut, and a positional switch for winger Zach Eckersley.
“Noah has been playing really well in the Reserves. I was chuffed with him the other week against Leeds (in the seconds). He has earned his stripes, while Zach has played fullback before,” said Peet.
French has been a key player since joining Wigan from Parramatta Eels during the 2019 season.
He scored tries in each of his five outings this year, notching six in all, and Peet is confident he can cope with being ruled out for so long.
“Even before the scans, we had a fair idea with the way he explained it to the physios. They said it sounded like a bad one, so we had a trip home to get our heads around it,” he explained.
“Bevan is a positive character. There was some frustration because he has got himself in great shape. I think he felt like he had some good form ahead of him.
“But he is quite philosophical. He quickly flicks the switch, and I think now he knows the timeframe and schedule for his recovery – like most professionals – he can get his head down now and focus on the present.”
Fullback has been a problem position for a number of clubs this year, with Castleford (Blake Taaffe and Fletcher Rooney), Huddersfield (George Flanagan and Niall Evalds), Hull FC (Will Pryce), Hull KR (Arthur Mourgue and Declan Murphy), Leigh (David Armstrong and Bailey Hodgson), St Helens (Jack Welsby) and Warrington (Cai Taylor-Wray) also affected.