Rugby League - Agar excited by Crowther potential

Crowther is set to become the youngest forward to play for the club, just a week after celebrating his 17th birthday.

“He had his first driving lesson last week and he’s going to get his Super League debut at Wigan,” said Agar.

“I’m really excited by it if I’m honest. He’s a super kid and very talented.

“This has come a little bit sooner than we’d anticipated for Jordy but the progress he’s made has been outstanding.

“We know as a young player coming into a game like this that he’ll probably make some mistakes but we’ll wear them because longer term we think he has the potential to turn into a top-line player.

“He’s fearless and being selected for this game won’t faze him one little bit.”

Agar is also set to give a Super League debut to 19-year-old Luke Briscoe, the brother of Leeds and England winger Tom, in place of suspended centre Dean Collis.

Wigan, too, are expected to have a debutant in 20-year-old forward Connor Farrell, who is hoping to line up alongside older brother Liam for the first time.

Warriors coach Shaun Wane reshuffles his side following their return from the World Club Challenge in Sydney, with Ryan Hampshire and Dom Manfredi taking the places of Matty Bowen and Josh Charnley as part of the changes.

“I’ve played them on the back of World Club Challenges before when I was at Hull and nearly got them that day,” Agar said.

“I don’t know what team they’re going to pick until I see the team sheet on matchday.

“What I do know is whatever 17 names are on the list, they’ll be very fit and strong athletically, they’ll be incredibly tough and they’ll be well drilled.”

Bradford will go in search of two of the points they were deducted in midweek when they host London Broncos.

Fresh from gaining their first win of the season at Wakefield, the Bulls found themselves on minus four points after the governing body docked them six for going into administration.

For most of the Bradford players, it is the second time they have experienced such a setback and centre Adrian Purtill says they will take it in their stride.

“I guess it’s pretty much been ongoing for the last two years,” Purtill said. “We haven’t really been in the clear since it first happened.

“It’s disappointing that we’ve lost six points but that’s the way it goes, they’re the rules.

“It’s going to be a great challenge now. If we the win on the weekend, which we’re going to have to work hard to do, then we’ll only be two points behind.

“We’ve been in this position before, it’s brought us closer together before and hopefully it’s just another one of those things which makes us tighter.”

London, who have suffered heavy defeats in their two opening matches, are poised to give debuts to a trio of overseas players following their arrival in the capital.

Ben Farrar and Josh Drinkwater are set to form the Broncos’ new half-back pairing while forwards Nick Slyney and Wigan loanee James Greenwood are also set to make their debuts.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to add to the squad after the opening couple of games,” said Broncos coach Tony Rea. “It’s nice and refreshing.”

Last year’s Grand Final runners-up Warrington bid to get off the mark when they host Hull at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The Wolves have yet to hit their straps but Hull coach Lee Radford has no doubt their early-season form is something of a blip.

“You only have to look at the squad to see that they’ll be boxing around the top end come the end of the season,” Radford said.

“They’re probably missing a bit of composure compared to years gone by but they are last year’s Grand Finalists, at home, so we’re going to expect everything coming at us on Sunday.”

Hull’s former Warrington prop Garreth Carvell will miss out on a reunion with his Grand-Final team-mates after injuring an ankle.

Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-england-announce-captain-181311998--spt.html

Rugby League - Agar excited by Crowther potential