Team Talk: Hull FC (a)

It’s a big game this weekend as Steve Price’s Warrington travel to East Yorkshire to take on Hull FC, coached by Wire legend Brett Hodgson.

The big news this week is that winger Tom Lineham has been hit with a three-match-ban for a late shot in the Swinton game. This means that Lineham will be missing the Hull FC, Catalans and Hull KR matches but will be available for the Challenge Cup quarter-final with the Dragons. There is still no Greg Inglis but other than those two, it is a full-strength squad named.

Full-Back - 17 Matty Ashton
The youngster had a very good game at 1 against Swinton and I hope he keeps his place there, though I don’t necessarily expect him to. 

Winger - 18 Jake Mamo
Lineham’s ban opens a slot out wide, which will probably be filled by Ashton. But I’d rather see Mamo out wide, allowing Ashton to stay at full-back.

Centre - 4 Toby King
Wire’s best player so far this season with five tries in three games - he’ll have a new partner next to him for this one.

Centre - 1 Stefan Ratchford
The key to getting the right edge more involved is to have some ball-handlers there. I’d give Ratchford a go at centre until Inglis is back.

Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
He’s had a really tough start to the season but I’d give him a few more games to try and turn things around.

Stand-Off - 6 Blake Austin
The Australian has played brilliantly on his last two visits to the KCOM Stadium and will hopefully have more of an influence than in the last few games.

Scrum-Half - 7 Gareth Widdop
Wire looked lost in attack without Widdop last week, which is no coincidence. 

Prop - 8 Chris Hill
Hill has quietly gone about his business but has started the season very well indeed. This game could be a battle of the forwards.

Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Clark has only started one Super League game this season but will surely be required from the off here.

Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
After a well-earned rest in the Cup, Cooper will be back to lead the forward pack in a tough battle through the middle.

Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
Having a really good season so far and has been a key part of Wire’s devastating left-edge attack.

Second Row - 12 Jack Hughes
We need to see more from Hughes in terms of ball-handling to try and get the right edge moving.

Loose Forward - 14 Jason Clark
I’m not feeling Philbin at 13 at all, so I’d bring Jason Clark back into the starting fold.

Interchange - 13 Joe Philbin
The GB international is so effective from the bench and in a game like this, that’s where he’s best utilised.

Interchange - 15 Matt Davis
Industrious, hard-working and pacy, Davis had a good impact in his first 2021 appearance last week.

Interchange - 19 Robbie Mulhern
Has done reasonably well so far. Big yardage needed from the bench.

Interchange - 16 Danny Walker
The young hooker has gone well so far this year, I’ve been impressed.

Preferred Team: Ashton; Mamo, King, Ratchford, Charnley; Austin, Widdop; Hill, D. Clark, Cooper; Currie, Hughes; J. Clark. Philbin, Davis, Mulhern, Walker.

Predicted Team: Ratchford; Ashton, King, Mamo, Charnley; Austin, Widdop; Hill, D. Clark, Cooper; Currie, Hughes; Philbin. J. Clark, Davis, Mulhern, Walker.

This is a very tough game. Wire have been iffy so far this season while FC have started on fire under Hodgson, playing attractive stuff and dominating through the middle. With no Josh Reynolds in the halves though, Wire are probably slight favourites and need to take advantage of FC missing one of their main men.

@ALooseWire