Super League: Wigan Warriors’ Liam Marshall aims to make up for missed Grand Finals in 150th appearance

Marc Bazeley

@MarcBazeley

Liam Marshall will make his 150th appearance for Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Super League semi-final at home to Hull Kingston Rovers on Saturday; watch the match at DW Stadium live on Sky Sports Arena from 12.15pm on Saturday (12.45pm kick-off)

Last updated: 05/10/23 1:20 PM

Liam Marshall will make his 150th appearance for Wigan in the Super League semi-finals

Liam Marshall will make his 150th appearance for Wigan in the Super League semi-finals

Liam Marshall scores tries. Many of them. This year alone he has made 20 Betfred Super League appearances in 25 appearances for Wigan Warriors, the fourth time he has reached that point in his eight-season career.

Unsurprisingly, Marshall is also difficult to stop. The winger has the most gainline meters of any Wigan player in 2023, and the fifth highest in Super League, with 3,239 and an average gain of 9.25 meters per carry. Together with fellow wide player Abbas Miski, he leads the Warriors with 25 linebreaks.

These are some eye-catching numbers, but as far as Marshall is concerned, there’s nothing special about what he’s doing to rack up those stats.

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“I’m just trying to get as much work out of our backfield as I can,” Marshall said.

“I’m probably not the biggest or strongest, so I just try to be as elusive and quick to the break as I can, and that helps me sometimes. That’s probably true, there is no special formula for it.

“It’s staying away from the big boys as much as possible, and that usually means you can make a few line breaks or avoid a difficult contact.”

Another notable statistic is that Saturday’s Super League play-off semi-final at home to Hull Kingston Rovers will mark Marshall’s 150th appearance for Wigan, where he will look to make it an extra special day with a victory that will see the Warriors will bring you back to the top. Grand Final and avenge July’s Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final loss to the Robins.

After an agonizing encounter, Wigan defeated Leigh in the final match of the regular season to win the League Leaders' Shield

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After an agonizing encounter, Wigan defeated Leigh in the final match of the regular season to win the League Leaders’ Shield

After an agonizing encounter, Wigan defeated Leigh in the final match of the regular season to win the League Leaders’ Shield

The 27-year-old missed Wigan’s 2018 win over Warrington Wolves in the Super League showpiece at Old Trafford and the defeat to St Helens in the grand final behind closed doors in Hull two years later due to injury, both times after serious injuries. knee injury earlier in the season.

That he has been able to bounce back from injuries requiring surgery twice and has lost none of the athleticism that makes him such a devastating threat on the Warriors’ perimeter is a testament to Marshall’s strength and conditioning regimen.

But he admitted that coming back from long-term knee problems not once but twice is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one.

“It’s strange to say that you go from one day doing exactly what you can do, and your body is fine, to the next day where your knee is gone and you lose the lateral movement and strength that you had,” said Marshall.

1696590163 263 Super League Wigan Warriors Liam Marshall aims to make up 1696590163 263 Super League Wigan Warriors Liam Marshall aims to make up

I’m probably not the biggest or strongest, so I try to be as elusive and quick to the break as I can, and that helps me sometimes.

Wigan Warriors winger Liam Marshall

“But you have to trust the process, keep working hard in training and the strength and conditioning staff know what they are doing. It’s more a matter of trust, I think.

“We are privileged to see some of the best surgeons and get the best advice, so when your knee is good and ready to go, you’ll be back on the field.

“It’s just gaining that trust and confidence, and also the timing, when you’ve been out there for a long time. A lot of it is more in your own head than what your body is like.”

One person who has played a big role in Marshall’s development at the Warriors is head coach Matt Peet, who was part of the academy staff when the then Wigan St Patricks junior went on trial with the city’s professional club at the age of 17.

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet was filled with pride as he saw his side beat Leigh to finish top of the table

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Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet was filled with pride as he saw his side beat Leigh to finish top of the table

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet was filled with pride as he saw his side beat Leigh to finish top of the table

Peet then coached Marshall during his time in Wigan’s youth set-up and served as his point of contact as he enjoyed his first taste of professional rugby, scoring 20 tries in 22 games on a season-long loan at part-timers Swinton Lions in 2016.

It is an ongoing relationship that Marshall is grateful for and has served him particularly well during some of those dark times, with the England Knights international looking for more success to back up last year’s Challenge Cup final triumph.

“He has been involved in my journey at Wigan and probably shaped me as a player,” Marshall said.

“Me and Matty have had some difficult conversations in the past when things didn’t quite go to plan, but I think it has helped our bond as a player and coach.

Liam Marshall's first professional playing experience was on loan at Swinton Liam Marshall's first professional playing experience was on loan at Swinton

Liam Marshall’s first professional playing experience was on loan at Swinton

“It makes it easier for me because I know him as a person, and what he expects from me and what he expects from a team.

“It makes my job easier because I know what he wants me to do as a player and how he wants things to go. That trust is a huge factor as a player and why we have done so well this season, and hopefully too. ” will continue for years to come.”

Watch Wigan Warriors and Hull Kingston Rovers battle live for a place in the Betfred Super League Grand Final Sky Sports Arena from 12.15 pm on Saturday October 7 (12.45 pm kick-off). Also stream on NOW.

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