Sculthorpe's disciplinary hearing adds to Wigan woe

Injury-hit Wigan could be without two more players for their Powergen Challenge Cup match against Wakefield on Friday night.

The Wigan prop, Danny Sculthorpe, will face a disciplinary hearing today, charged with striking an opponent after appearing to take out Leeds' Richard Mather with a high, off-the-ball tackle in the match at Headingley last Friday, and any suspension will rule him out of the tie.

Wigan will also be without their young utility back, Chris Melling, with a knee injury. The results of a scan will not be known until today, but Melling is thought to have suffered cartilage damage, which will keep him out for at least three weeks.

Mick Cassidy is expected to make his first appearance of the season for Wigan, while Wakefield have doubts about Sid Domic and Gareth Ellis, but Michael Korkidas is likely to be fit to return.

Whitehaven are predicting a 6,500 sell-out at their Recreation Ground for the game against Warrington on Sunday.

The Castleford scrum-half, Ryan Sheridan, will be out for 12 weeks as a result of a neck injury suffered last week in the match against Hull.

Bradford are considering a request from the Rugby Football League to allow their coach, Brian Noble, to take charge of the Great Britain side on a part-time basis. Noble was assistant to David Waite in the Ashes series last autumn and is the favourite to coach the national side in the first Tri-Series later this year.

Aled James, the centre who played for Widnes and Wales last season, has joined Sheffield Eagles. James, currently playing for the Welsh rugby union side Aberavon, made three appearances for Widnes last year.

The Canterbury Bulldogs' chief executive and former Test scrum-half, Steve Mortimer, has resigned from his post following police inquiries into allegations of gang rape against a number of the club's players.