Wigan Warriors suffer a key loss to tie St Helens as the surprise name on the hooker

Bevan French has been left out of the Wigan Warriors squad to face St Helens on Friday night through injury – Luke Thompson started the derby at hooker in a surprise move from Matt Peet.

French is a notable absentee from the reigning champions’ side to face their biggest rivals at the Brick Community Stadium on Friday night.

Zach Eckersley has been named in his place at full-back, with Jack Farrimond and Harry Smith set to continue in the halves, just as they did last weekend against Leigh Leopards.

But perhaps the biggest news of all is that Thompson, who came through the ranks at St Helens, will start the game at hooker.

Thompson has been one of the standout props in Super League this season, but the prostitute role is an unfamiliar one, having only played there once before – in 2019 – for St Helens.

Starting hooker Brad O’Neill is unavailable through suspension, while deputy Kruise Leeming is injured and youngster Tom Forber is also ruled out. That left the Warriors with something of a crunch at nine, and it looks like Thompson will be the one to bridge the gap.

French’s injury is expected to be detailed by Matt Peet later Friday night.

Wigan: Zach Eckersley; Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Jack Farrimond, Harry Smith; Ethan Havard, Luke Thompson, Tyler Dupree, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis. Subs: Liam Byrne, Patrick Mago, Harvie Hill, Sam Walters.

St Helens: Harry Robertson; Tee Ritson, Mark Percival, Ben Davies, Waqa Blake; Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax; George Delaney, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, James Bell, Agnatius Paasi. Subs: Sam Royle, Jake Burns, Jonny Vaughan, Noah Stephens.

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