Evalds in as Carney waits
SALFORD coach Ian Watson has drafted in Niall Evalds as replacement for stood-down winger Justin Carney.
The Red Devils’ ‘Tank on the Flank’ Carney faces a previously adjourned disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, for alleged racial abuse towards Ryan Bailey in last weekend’s Challenge Cup win over Toronto. Watson’s main priority is taking two points from bottom-of-the-table Widnes.
Aussie Carney scored in a ninetry 46-10 rout when the teams met on the Vikings’ artificial grass pitch last month.
“Widnes will be wanting to come here and make amends,” agreed Watson.
“They are a good team and have a lot of their key players back, including their first-choice LUKE GALE plundered 20 points as rampant ninetry Castleford posted a highest- ever Super League score against the shambolic champions to return to the top of the table.
The England half- back touched down and landed eight goals as a parting gift to the home fans before leaving for Australia today with team-mates Zak Hardaker and Mike McMeeken.
Back row McMeeken also boosted his chances of facing Samoa in Sydney next Saturday, with a try-scoring performance.
And centre Michael Shenton, unlucky to be left out of Wayne Bennett’s Down Under squad, will surely be in World Cup contention at the end of the season on last night’s evidence.
Tigers’ task was made easier as Wigan twice went down to 12-men due to sin-binnings for Frank- Paul Nuuausala and Morgan Escare.
But with 14 they would have struggled to restrain their redhot hosts.
To make matters worse, Warriors lost three players to injury including Gale’s half-back Test rival, George Williams, who failed to reappear for the second period.
Hull’s win over Warrington on Friday dropped Tigers to second spot after defeats to St Helens and the Black and Whites.
But they were boosted by Gale’s inclusion after the exBradford star’s game- ending concussion at the KCOM. And half backs. It is something that we shall need to be aware of, because if we go out even slightly off, we could struggle.
“All the games against Widnes, over the last couple of years, have been quite close. This will most likely be another of those.”
Hooker Logan Tomkins and Todd Carney return to Salford’s squad. Eamon O’Carroll could make his first appearance of the season for the Vikings. Rangi Chase was back on the bench after a wrist injury forced him to miss the Hull game.
Wigan had won three in a row after Tigers’ 27-10 victory at the DW Stadium on April 6.
But within 40 seconds of the start Shaun Wane’s men knew it probably wouldn’t be four.
And by half-time the game was as good as over, with Tigers running in four tries and Gale five from five with the boot.
Tigers shredded t heir opponents from the first whistle.
Shenton made the initial break and Gale raced to within 10 metres of a touchdown before winger Tom Davies floored him with a brilliant tackle.
Tigers wouldn’t be denied and Adam Milner crashed over from dummy-half.
Injury
Gale and Greg Eden combined for Shenton to dive in at the corner, Gale turning it i nto six points from the touchline.
Wigan’s night got worse, losing centre Anthony Gelling to injury and prop Nuuausala to a yellow card.
Big Frank initially conceded a penalty which Gale converted and then opened his big mouth for 10 minutes on the sidelines.
Sam Powell’s 26th- minute touchdown briefly gave Wigan a badly-needed shot in the arm, but Escare missed his conversion.
That proved Wigan’s high spot as Cas went through the gears on their way to beating their 42- 14 score over the Warriors from 2015.
Matt Cook and McMeekin crossed by half-time before Greg Minikin ( 2), Gale, Grant Millington and Jake Webster added second- half tries to complete the massacre.