Matt Peet gave Wigan Warriors a double injury update before Hull FC vs Warriors, saying Ethan Havard and Liam Marshall are both progressing well in rehabilitation. The pair remain out, and Sam Walters is also unavailable as Wigan head into Saturday afternoon with three absences still shaping the squad.
Marshall’s rehab timeline
Marshall is the clearest case. He tore his hamstring in late April away against Warrington Wolves and is now into week eight of an expected 12-week lay-off. Peet said he is on track but a while off yet, and that he is not running, or certainly not with the team.
He added that Marshall is working hard in the gym and looks great physically, but remains over a month away. The winger could return on July 24, which gives Wigan a firmer point on the calendar than they have for Havard.
Havard and Peet’s update
Havard’s situation is different. He fractured his jaw early in Wigan’s win at Wakefield Trinity earlier this month and later underwent surgery. Peet said: “Ethan’s in a lot of pain. He’s working hard, as ever.”
He also said: “Him and Sam Walters are ripping the gym apart, they’re very good professionals, excellent athletes and they’re working hard.” That leaves Havard in rehabilitation with no return date set, even though the coach still described him as progressing well.
Walters’ ban shapes selection
Walters brings a separate problem. He was banned for seven games after a red card late in the Challenge Cup final for a tip tackle on Hull KR hooker Bill Leyland, and he has already served three of those seven games. Wigan still have to get through Hull FC, St Helens, Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants before he is back in contention.
Noah Hodkinson has been the direct fill-in on the wing, and he has scored 11 tries in seven appearances there, including seven tries across Wigan’s last two games. That return has softened the loss of Marshall, but the club still heads into Hull FC with the same problem: two front-line attackers in rehab, one forward suspended, and the first clean restart for the group not until Marshall’s July 24 window.
