WITH Johnny Openshaw out injured and Sean Slater suspended for two matches, Roughyeds have moved smartly to land a highly promising young hooker from Wigan Warriors on loan.
Up and coming Lewis Pinder, aged 18, who is already in the Wales 33-man senior train-on squad with the likes of Owen Restall, Elliott Kear, Rhodri Lloyd, Gavin Bennion, Rhys Williams and former Roughyeds prop Joe Burke, will go straight into Stu Littler’s 21-man squad for Sunday’s big game against Hunslet at the Vestacare Stadium.
He is the youngest member of the Welsh train-on squad and is highly regarded at Wigan, who signed him in November, 2020 from Wigan St Jude’s.
He was born in Wrexham and played rugby league there as a small boy before relocating to the Wigan area and joining St Jude’s in 2018 while still a young teenager.
It was while playing for Wigan that he was selected for Wales under-16s, playing against England in 2019 and coached by Lee Crooks.
Crooks told Dai Sport, 2020 winners of the Wales Media Awards:
“Lewis came into the squad as a 15-year-old and had a background in Rugby League which always helps.
“He stood out for a number of reasons but his pace and his ability to recognise and to react to different situations put him in front of other players.
“He was a very coachable lad. I hope he goes a long way in the game.”
Hurry to get your cut-price tickets for the big game online before midnight tonight (Friday).
Standing tickets for adults and concessions are on offer for £12 and £10 respectively for the next few hours online, but they will cost £15 and £13 if bought at the turnstiles on Sunday.
