Wigan put Mather on transfer list

The battle between Wigan and Barrie-Jon Mather has been stepped up with the club transfer-listing the centre at pounds 150,000 but Mather and his advisors insisting that he is not theirs to sell, writes Dave Hadfield. Mather walked out on the club this week, claiming that his contract is invalid.

The Wigan chairman, Jack Robinson, is equally adamant that all their agreements with the player have been honoured. "I am very disappointed with his attitude," he said. "We have never let him down in any way."

Wigan have added two more teenagers, Paul Johnson and Neil Baines, to their squad for tomorrow's match against Workington.

Bernard Dwyer, the St Helens forward, is another dissatisfied player. He has been listed at pounds 95,000 after being told that his contract will not be reviewed until the end of the season.

Leeds have brought in Francis Cummins and Mike Forshaw, in place of Paul Cook and Gary Mercer, who both drop to the bench for the match against Sheffield Eagles. Cummins will also take over Cook's goal-kicking duties.

Sheffield have Paul Broadbent back after concussion, but Ian Hughes and Keith Senior out with viral infections.

Greg Mackey will be on the bench for Warrington against the London Broncos at The Stoop, despite his plan to return home to Australia next month.

"The club have been very good about it and I'll play when they want me to until the day I fly out," he said. His replacement at scrum-half, Mike Ford, continues in that role against a London line-up selected from a full-strength squad.

Oldham, already depleted by injuries, will be without Afi Leuila and Chris Parr for their match against Castleford. Both have been suspended for high tackles, Parr for one match and Leuila for four after being cited by Sheffield.

Hull, who meet Featherstone and their new signings from Bradford, Deryck Fox and Roy Powell, will be under a caretaker coach, Russ Walker, following the resignation of Phil Windley. The club was already due to announce a permanent appointment within the next few weeks.

There is a landmark occasion in the Second Division, where Hunslet return to the area of Leeds from which they take their name after an absence of 22 years.

Leigh are the first visitors to the new South Leeds Stadium, which is just a few hundred yards from the site of the Parkside ground they left in 1973.