Wigan Warriors v Castleford Tigers: Three Super League head to heads
Tuesday 24 April 2018 14:13, UK
There's a big battle at the top of Super League on Friday night, live on Sky Sports Arena, with Wigan - in second - taking on fourth-placed Castleford.
The Tigers can go level on points with the Warriors and they still have a game in hand.
Here are three head to heads that might decide it...
Sam Tomkins v Jake Trueman
What a moment for Sam Tomkins to send a reminder of his talents. With his future at Wigan up in the air, who better than the full-back to land a match-winning drop goal?
The rumoured move to the south of France is on everyone's lips at the moment, but if Tomkins does go, it won't be quietly. He's showing signs of the form that made him the world's most expensive player.
Tomkins was influential against Leeds, popping over a touchline conversion to go with his drop goal. Shaun Wane has moved him into the halves during games at times this season to try and utilise his ability to pick a gap, either going himself with a step or putting a teammate through a hole with a pass. And if this is to be his last season in Cherry and White, expect Tomkins to go out swinging.
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Have Castleford found the solution to their full-back problems? Step forward Jake Trueman. He's started the last four matches in the number one slot, after coming on in that role in the one-point win over Leeds at Elland Road. And Trueman has impressed.
It's been a real dilemma for Daryl Powell since the Zak Hardaker affair. Without one of last season's star men, Powell decided to give half back Ben Roberts the nod in pre-season. It hasn't worked. And that's left Powell looking for alternatives. And Trueman, one of the competition's most exciting halves, has filled the role with success.
He survived the Easter mudbaths against Wakefield and Warrington, despite defeat to the Wolves, holding his head up high in conditions even Billy Slater would have found testing.
Trueman won't provide the giant metres from the back, he averages just 5.51m a run currently, but his ability to step into the line and act as playmaker for Powell's side will be invaluable. Watch out to see if the youngster keeps developing at the back.
George Williams v Luke Gale
It wasn't Gale who led the way in Super League for assists last season. That was George Williams who almost single-handedly carried Wigan in 2017. It's no surprise to see him setting high standards again in 2018. The half back's 11 try assists is only behind Richie Myler in Super League's charts and is level with St Helens' magic man - Ben Barba.
He's yet to miss a game this season, featuring 11 times so far as Wigan push to catch their rivals Saints. Wigan's attack was much criticised in 2017, but Wane's side have certainly increased their productivity this time around. Their 51 tries are the joint-most in the competition, along with St Helens. Williams is a big part of that.
He's put in the most attacking kicks for the Warriors (47) and that's 23 more than any other teammate. With two tries to his name, Williams is always a massive threat with ball-in-hand. Castleford will need to shut him down on Friday.
Wayne Bennett will be watching on closely as two England half backs go toe-to-toe on Friday. Castleford's attack hasn't quite fired in 2018 as it did the previous campaign, but there were good signs in the win over Catalans. And Daryl Powell will want to see more of Luke Gale.
He's got six try assists this season, well behind the competition's best - Richie Myler - who has 12. Gale hit the 20 mark in 2017 and an eye-watering 46 in 2016, so the half back certainly has high standards to hit. But the weather hasn't been kind to the Tigers.
The dire weather we've seen pretty much since the season kicked off hampers the flair and ambition Powell's side like to show in attack. But Gale shone against Catalans, kicking them off the field in that big win. Hopefully the sun is just around the corner and we'll see the best of the Tigers, and of Gale, in the second half of the campaign.
Ryan Sutton v Liam Watts
There are a lot of NRL clubs circling Wigan at the moment. And one of the players on the radar is the prop Ryan Sutton. He's called the interest 'mind blowing' with Parramatta, Canberra and Newcastle all said to be interested. Sutton is out of contract at the end of the season, but he's become a key part of Wane's side.
The forward has missed only one of the club's last 33 games and has received a call-up from the England Knights for his efforts. Sutton has the most metres of any Warriors forward, 939 from his 135 carries and that's at an average gain of 6.96m a drive.
No nonsense go-forward then. But Sutton is mainly utilised as an impact player; he's come off the interchange bench in ten of his 11 appearances this season, starting just the once. If Sutton is to leave Wigan, then he'll be keen to make an impression before moving on from the Cherry and Whites.
Liam Watts made a surprising mid-season switch, swapping Hull FC for Castleford. And he's still settling in for the Tigers having made his debut against Warrington.
Watts' debut for his new club was delayed due to his suspension - he was sent off for a headbutt in his last FC game against Warrington. That was Watts' fourth red card in two seasons, a disciplinary problem that Daryl Powell will hope to stamp out.
His game suits the Tigers' style perfectly. Watts runs hard and offloads the ball, evident from his stats so far. He's made 400 metres from his 55 carries, coming at an average of 7.27m a drive. And there's six offloads thrown as well, a weapon that Castleford will need going into the back end of the season to unleash their running rugby.
It could be the perfect match. Watts will be hoping to find the form to impress Wayne Bennett and Powell has another big impact forward to bolster his pack.
