Hot Rankin eyes Giant impact
The Super League champions have not won in EIGHT league matches – a run that includes draws against Warrington and Huddersfield – a streak of failure that Wigan has not endured since 1903.
They sit eighth in the table with a mountain to climb to make the top four and defend their title.
But Wane maintains that is still achievable, and with a Challenge Cup semi- final against Salford to prepare for as well, he says the club’s season is very much alive.
Wane said: “I don’t have any self-doubts – and I don’t mean that to sound arrogant.
“I know what our strongest team can do.
“When we consistently turn out the same team, we’ll start picking some wins up.
“It’ll take a while to kick in, and my job is to make it happen very quickly.
“We’ve won a World Club Challenge, and hopefully we can get to Wembley and kick-on and have a great season, but I’m not going to convince you that I’m happy. I’m not, and we’re not.
“As a club, I don’t like losing games, and it’s something which needs to change pretty quickly.
“We’re not winning HUDDERSFIELD new-boy Jordan Rankin is keen to hit the ground running ahead of his expected debut today.
The former Hull FC utility man has joined the Giants from Australian side Wests Tigers, and is set for an initial run at full-back with Jake Mamo sidelined with injury. Rankin said: “I come here games, and we’re a club that has to win.
“It’s not external pressure, these are internal pressures we put on ourselves.
“We have standards here and we’ve dipped below them – we shouldn’t be going 13-0 down at Huddersfield like last week, in a big game.
“Hopefully we’ve ironed those problems out, they’re only tiny fixes, and we can play at our best against Widnes.” The Vikings a more experienced player second time around but I know I’ve got plenty to prove.
“I’m not fussed if I’m playing at full-back or in the halves, although the halves is where I see myself playing long-term.
“I think Danny Brough is a great fit for me personally – he runs the team around well and I can play off the back of that and play what’s in front of me, which has always been the best part of have enjoyed a resurgence of late after winning their last three home games, and like Wane’s side have now got key figures back on the field.
Wane added: “Widnes are flying at the minute – they’ve one suspension, no injuries.
“If you don’t get forward on them they will burn you. They’ve got a good record at the DW and so they’ll get the respect they deserve.
“It’s professional sport and I don’t like where we’re sitting at the minute.
“The players definitely don’t like it – the meetings are ugly, we’re talking harshly, because we’re a winning club.
“There are circumstances that are well-documented, but we’re losing and drawing and we don’t like it.”
Wane is able to welcome back prop Tony Clubb after he had a kidney removed my game. With Jake Mamo injured, I’ll probably start at fullback while I get used to the boys around me.
“I’ll take every opportunity I can to pull on the jersey, and whether that’s at one or seven I’m happy to do it.
“I’ve been playing the last couple of weeks so I’m ready to go – hopefully we can go to Salford and get the two points.”
Prop Sam Rapira is also back in just two months ago, but fellow front rower Taulima Tautai is out with a calf complaint.
Joel Tomkins is struggling with a similar problem and Anthony Gelling is set for a late fitness test on his knee.
The Vikings are without Rangi Chase, on a two-match ban for use of the shoulder in the win over Leigh. coach Rick Stone’s squad after missing the draw with Wigan through suspension.
Sam Wood and the injured Martyn Ridyard drop out.
Salford are set to recall skipper Michael Dobson after he missed the last-gasp defeat at St Helens, and Gareth O’Brien and Weller Hauraki could also make returns.
Winger Jake Bibby has dropped out and could play for Halifax today on dual registration.