The Curious Case of Wigan Warriors

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 Let's talk about Wigan Warriors' 2020 season so far. Why? Because nobody else is!

We are almost at the half way point of the shortened Super Leaue season and Wigan lead the way. They have suffered just two defeats in 2020.

Yet when the discussion turns to title contenders, they are often an afterthought. You hear plenty about St Helens and Catalans but not Wigan.

I suspect that is because Wigan haven't yet had an eye-catching post lockdown performance. St Helens were strong against Catalans and irrepressible against Leeds. Catalans impressed against Castleford and blitzed Wakefield.

Wigan's victories have seemed labourious by comparison. But all wins are worth two points regardless of the manner. Whilst their title rivals draw the attention, Adrian Lam has started a quiet revolution. 

Let's look at their starting 17. At the start of the season, I did not foresee Bevan French at full back and Zak Hardaker at centre. I also thought we would see less of Tommy Leuluai.

Yet it is in the pack where the more meaningful change has happened. I thought that George Burgess would be the leader, flanked by Mitch Clark and Ben Flower.

Instead, Burgess and Clark have made inauspicious starts to their Wigan careers and the 'old guard' of Flower and Clubb look now to be on the periphery.

They have been replaced by exciting young players such as Liam Byrne and Ethan Havard. 

Adrian Lam struggled at the start of the 2019, but is now building his own side. He has clearly broken with the Maguire and Wane era and has started to remould Wigan. The aim seems to be to build a side with more strike in their backline and a more youthful and mobile pack.

The young forwards should not yet be anywhere near their full potential. That will worry rival clubs. If Wigan, with their inexperienced pack, can already challenge for the League Leaders' Shield, then in years to come they will be a major force.

The fact that Wigan's 2020 season hasn't created much noise won't concern Adrian Lam, whose faith in youth and backline overhaul has so far been justified.

You might need to whisper it quietly, but Wigan Warriors are going to have a major role in the story of the 2020 season.

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