Lam’s concerns over England’s Test plans
WIGAN BOSS URGES RETHINK AS WARRIORS SET TO LOSE SEVERAL PLAYERS
ADRIAN Lam believes Super League needs to put some serious thought into the fixtures set to take place on the weekend of England’s game with the Exiles.
All 12 Super League clubs are due to play on the weekend of the mid-season Test, which will be Shaun Wane’s first game in charge.
That means all clubs face the threat of being without key players for their games, which is thought to have been met with reluctance by many.
Wigan are due to play Wakefield Trinity that weekend. Five Warriors players were named in Wane’s latest pool of players in November. By comparison, Wakefield had just one.
With Jackson Hastings and Bevan French both likely to be in contention for the Exiles, among others, Lam is understandably cautious about Super League’s plans for that weekend.
“It’s a tough one as coach of a club that will be missing some players,” he said.
“In the past, I’ve been a really big supporter of the England programme and we’ve been making sure we’re behind it and making it work. But I think they need to have a look at how they see that unfolding.
“We knew the England programme already changed due to Covid. We’re buying into that as well, there is a lot to consider, I have a few questions around how it works, who our opponent is that weekend, how will they be affected, how many players are going to be on duty. It’s important who you play, you want to play a team with the same disadvantage if you want to look at it that way.
“I think there will be a little bit more movement there but I don’t jump on the bandwagon at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Lam says he is considering sending some of his young stars out on loan.
Clubs across Super League face a conundrum this season, with the reserve grade cancelled while academy fixtures for under-19s don’t start until May. That leaves players facing the prospect of no regular action for a prolonged period of time.
Two Warriors have already departed on loan with Chris Hankinson and Amir Bourouh moving to Championship clubs London Broncos and Halifax Panthers respectively.
But Lam hasn’t ruled out further loan departures to ensure his players are both developing and match fit.
“I think that’s part of the process every week to week to be honest,” he said. “We understand there is no reserve grade for 2021, players have to go out on loan and we’re working aggressively on that.
“Championship is up and running, so it’s a matter of feeling it as we go along.
“We probably need one or two ourselves coming in as we go along, so it’s a process we’ll manage weekly.”