Bullish Leigh star lays down the gauntlet to Wigan ahead of crunch Super League clash

Leigh winger Umyla Hanley prepared for World Club champions Wigan insisting: “We know we’re better than them.”

The Leopards head to their derby rivals on Friday looking to inflict a shock on the Super League leaders. Leigh fancied their chances the last time they met in April but ended up being hammered 40-12. However, ex-Wigan flyer Hanley, 22, maintained: “We feel we’re in a better spot than last time, 100 percent.

“We’ve a few players back from injury now, had a really good week in training and we’re very confident for this game. We know Wigan are a really successful team. They always have been. But it’s just 13 v 13. And everyone in our team believes, in our hearts, that we’re better than they are. It comes down to doing it on the night.”

Hanley has been in form with 12 tries in 14 games this term but inconsistent Leigh - last season’s big surprise package - are slumped in ninth. Ahead of his first return to DW Stadium since leaving Wigan in 2022, he admitted: “It’s been a good year personally. But I want to win. I don’t just want me to do well. I want the whole team to do well and win something. Our main focus now is getting in that top-six and bringing home a trophy.”

He faces 16-try Liam Marshall on Friday, Super League’s top scorer who many thought was unfortunate not to earn a first England cap against France last weekend. Hanley admitted: “Marshy’s a really good player. When I was at Wigan, he was always really good with me.

"He’s very loud and a fantastic player. Everyone’s seen that in Super League the last five or six years. It’s always a big task against him but my personal job is to be better than my opposite number. That’s my plan Friday.”

Meanwhile, gutted Castleford star Sam Wood has been ruled out for the season after picking up a shoulder injury on his England debut. The news has rocked the in-form centre and his club ahead of Friday's game at St Helens. Wood has been Tigers’ best player this season and was rewarded for his sterling efforts with his international bow against France on Saturday.

But Castleford boss Craig Lingard revealed: “Unfortunately he needs a reconstruction on his shoulder and is done for the year. As great as the international recognition was for Sam, it’s not been great news for us. He’s probably been our most consistent player this season, or one of our most consistent players, and deservedly got that recognition playing for England.

“It was a real boost for him getting that international cap and hopefully it’s the first of many. But it’s a blow for us to lose him, not only for this week but the rest of the season as well. If he’d have carried on playing it could have been a seven-month injury but, this way, hopefully he’s back in three.”

Second-row Alex Mellor switches to replace Wood while prop George Lawler could, remarkably, make his first Super League appearance since suffering a bleed on his brain in April.