Wigan Warriors have made 10 changes to their matchday squad for Thursday's Super League trip to Hull KR, with only 11 of the 21 players named by Matt Peet after last Friday's win over Leeds Rhinos retained this week. The reshuffle means George O'Loughlin, the 19-year-old son of former Wigan skipper and current assistant coach Sean O'Loughlin, is among a number of possible debutants from the club's academy.
The selection comes with Wigan due to visit Hull KR twice in a short span, first in league play this week and then again at Wembley on Saturday, 30 May. Wigan are the Challenge Cup's most successful side with 21 victories and lifted the trophy most recently in 2024, while Hull KR sit fourth in the table on the same number of points as Wigan but with a game in hand.
Hull KR have also changed their squad, with Joe Burgess and Jack Charles dropping out, and Arthur Mourgue unavailable after a recurrence of his pectoral injury in Saturday's win over Leigh Leopards. The meeting has already drawn extra scrutiny because of Wigan's selection, with the Rugby Football League saying it made enquiries with the club and was satisfied there had been no breach of the Operational Rules.
That background matters because the RFL has shown before that it will act on squad-selection issues, with Salford Red Devils docked two points last season after breaching operational rules in a similar case. For Wigan, the immediate task is to get through Thursday's test at the MKM Stadium with a heavily altered group, then decide how much of the same squad can be trusted when the teams meet again for rugby league's biggest day at Wembley.
