Castleford Tigers call up young guns for Wigan Warriors test

Adam Milner will miss Castleford Tigers' home clash with Wigan Warriors after being hurt against Toronto Wolfpack last week. Picture by Tony Johnson.

Centre Brad Graham, centre/second-row Robbie Storey, prop Sam Hall, second-row Brad Martin and 17-year-old England Youth full-back Bailey Hodgson have been named in coach Daryl Powell’s initial 21-man squad.

Props George Griffin and Tyla Hepi and loose-forward Adam Milner miss out after suffering concussion in last Sunday’s 28-10 win over Toronto Wolfpack, along with winger Greg Eden (knee).

Centre Peter Mata’utia’s appeal against a two-match ban, for a late hit on Wolfpack’s Jon Wilkin, was rejected so he also drops out.

Oliver Holmes, pictured in action against Wigan last year, could return to face them on Friday. Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.

Forwards Oliver Holmes and Junior Moors are named in the squad following injury and winger James Clare and second-row Lewis Peachey are also in contention, but winger Sosaia Feki and forwards Mike McMeeken, Matt Cook, Alex Foster and Jesse Sene-Lefao remain on the casualty list.

Wigan could be unchanged from the team which beat Warrington Wolves 16-10 last week in Betfred Super League round one.

Mitch Clark, a prop signed last year from Castleford, is also included in their 21, along with Chris Hankinson, Jake Shorrocks and Harry Smith.

Castleford Tigers: from Rankin, Olpherts, Shenton, Trueman, Richardson, Watts, McShane, Millington, Holmes, Massey, Blair, D Smith, Moors, Clare, O’Neill, Peachey, Graham, Storey, Martin, Hall, Hodgson.

Wigan Warriors: from Hardaker, Marshall, Hankinson, Burgess, French, Leuluai, Clubb, Powell, Isa, Farrell, O’Loughlin, Greenwood, Smithies, Partington, Byrne, Clark, Bibby, Jake Shorrocks, H Smith, Havard, Hastings.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths (Widnes).

Kick-off: Friday, 7.45pm.