Marshall: Expecting a tough challenge
- Liam Marshall reflects on Wigan’s two opening round games and looks ahead to Thursday’s clash with Huddersfield Giants.
- Marshall: “They’ve put on two good performances to start the season so we’re expecting a tough challenge on Thursday.”
- Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants, Thursday 24th February, DW Stadium (8pm K.O.)
Liam Marshall spoke to Wigan TV as the Warriors prepare to take on the Giants in Round 3 of the Betfred Super League this Thursday.
On their first home game last Friday, he said: “I enjoyed it, it was a tough Leeds side who have come into this year with a lot of excitement around them. Our first big challenge of the season, having them at home but I think we played pretty well. There’s still some things to fix up, but posting points like we did at the weekend, I can’t remember doing in the last couple of years against them.
“We normally seem to grind out games but on Friday we took our chances which is good, we put a good performance on for the fans and fair play to them that turned out, I think I saw there was about 12,000 on a terrible evening for weather so it was good to give them something back at the start of the season.”
Marshall notched a double at Hull KR but had a lot of defensive work to do against Leeds: “Playing on the wing you get a chance to score some points but I’d definitely snap your hand off for two points for the win and a good result for the team rather than the individual accolades. As long as I’m doing my job for the team and contributing towards that, the tries will hopefully come. Two wins from two is a great start and that’s exactly what I would’ve wanted.”
He added: “Usually my highlights from a game are scoring tries or breaks but there were some decent defensive efforts at the weekend. It’s always been a part of my game that I’ve needed to improve since I started at Wigan so hopefully, the hard work is paying off and I can continue to improve and keep going at that for the rest of the year.”
With two wins from two, Marshall highlighted ‘key moments’ impacting Wigan’s decision making in games: “I think you’ll see on the video when Jai makes the tackle I run over and give him a massive hug as he saved my backside. They’re key moments in games and after that we played as good as we have, we kicked on from that moment. It could’ve been 12-0, Jai is getting all the plaudits for his attacking this season but that is one of the better tackles you’ll see all season. It’s about making those moments, that was a mental swing and we jumped on the back of that, before half time and after half time we were the better team and racked up 30-odd points so it’s promising.”
On this week’s opponents, Marshall said: “They’re a good side, two from two under Ian Watson, they’ve brought some players in the off season and they look like a good side. They’ve put on two good performances to start the season so we’re expecting a tough challenge on Thursday. It’s going to be a tough game, we’re looking to make it three from three but so are they, so I think it’ll be a good contest.”
Finally, the winger talked about the return of Bevan French to Robin Park Arena: “It’s been a positive pre-season but it’s always been in the back of our minds that we’re missing that one man. As people are aware, he’s a tough time off the field in these last few months. It shows his commitment and his love for the Club that he has come back so soon after a tough period for himself off the field but I think he landed just last night and he’s been on the field already this morning getting flogged so that’s fair play to him.
“When he finished he got in the huddle and had a big smile on his face, all the lads have really welcomed him back as they have with everyone – it’s almost like a fresh signing with Bevan because he’s not been here for a while, he’s a good lad around the Camp, we welcome with open arms and hopefully we’ll see him back on the pitch before too long.”
Hear more from Liam Marshall on Wigan TV by clicking HERE. See the boys in action at the DW Stadium this Thursday evening, with tickets still available via the DW Stadium ticket office right up until kick off!
