Lowe names best side

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 38

Lowe names best side

PA London The Wigan coach, Graham Lowe, has named his best side — including his four Kiwi stars — for Saturday’s Challenge Cup rugby league final against St Helens although some will have to prove their fitness in rigorous daily training sessions.

While his Saints counterpart, Alex Murphy, worries about who to leave out when he names his team, Mr Lowe’s concern will be about who might have to drop out of his side. The former Kiwi coach has named Andy Gregory, Shaun Edwards, Joe Lydon and lan Potter, who have all been out with injury, plus Adrian Shelford who suffered a shoulder injury at the week-end.

“There are no special fitness tests planned, just our normal training. That will be tough enough,” Mr Lowe said. "But if any of the players aren’t 100 per cent fit, they will >be pulled out of the team.”

Mr Lowe said he was confident that his latest casualty, Shelford, will be fit for Wembley despite a bruised arm sustained in Wigan’s shock loss to Saints in the Cup final dress rehearsal last Sunday. Shelford was replaced in the second half of the game and was so sore that night that he was unable to raise his arm above his head. “He received a bump but I’m confident that he will be okay.”

Mr Lowe has sprung a surprise by moving Dean Bell back to his usual position in the centres. The New Zealand World Cup captain has been on the wing since he returned from injury two months ago.

“But for this one match I want him back in the centres for reasons which I hope will be apparent on the day.” Lowe said that he was not worried about Sunday’s premiership play-off loss to Saints. “That’s history. It’s what happens on Saturday that counts now.”

The full line-up is: Hampson, Tony Iro, Kevin Iro, Bell, Lydon, Edwards, Gregory, Lucas, Kiss, Shelford, Platt, Potter, and Hanley (captain). Substitutes: Betts and Goodway.