TEAM NEWS: Monaghan brothers and Waterhouse missing for trip to Hull KR (From Warrington Guardian)

TEAM NEWS: Monaghan brothers and Waterhouse missing for trip to Hull KR

2:41pm Sunday 3rd March 2013 in Wolves news By Christopher Terris Taylor

WOLVES will take on Hull KR at Craven Park without influential Australian players Trent Waterhouse and Michael Monaghan.

Warrington’s head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith has made three changes to the starting XIII that defeated Hull FC 24-10 at the KC Stadium last week, with an abdominal tear suffered by Joel Monaghan meaning Wolves’ top scorer is replaced by Rhys Williams after his return from loan club Salford.

It is not clear why Michael Monaghan and second rower Trent Waterhouse play no part in today’s game, though Smith suggested earlier in the week that he was waiting for some players to take a late fitness test before picking his side.

Williams partners Rhys Evans on the right wing, while Micky Higham, who celebrated his 100th career try against the black and whites last week, replaces Monaghan at hooker.

Ben Westwood returns from his one-match suspension for fighting to replace the absent Waterhouse.

There is also a debut Wolves Super League appearance for substitute James Laithwaite, who will make his first senior league appearance for Warrington against the club that gave him a Super League debut during a loan spell last season.

Hull KR: Greg Eden; Alex Brown, Kris Welham, Liam Salter, David Hodgson; Travis Burns, Michael Dobson; Evarn Tuimavave, Josh Hosdgson, Rhys Lovegrove, Dale Ferguson, Cory Paterson, Con Mika. Subs: Keal Carlile, Graeme Horne, George Griffin, Mickey Pea.

Wolves: Brett Hodgson; Rhys Williams, Rhys Evans, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley; Stefan Ratchford, Richie Myler; Paul Wood, Micky Higham, Chris Hill, Simon Grix, Ben Westwood, Mike Cooper. Subs: Garreth Carvell, Tyrone McCarthy, Ben Currie, James Laithwaite.