Injury-hit Whitehaven have again added to their reduced squad through the loan system by agreeing a short-term deal with Wigan for one of their promising young forwards.
Jack Bibby has agreed an initial two-week loan deal and will go straight into Jonty Gorley’s plans for this weekend’s AB Sundecks 1895 Cup play-off against Sheffield Eagles.
An England youth international 20-year-old Bibby has been at the Wigan club since Under 15s level and has captained the academy side making his first team debut for the Warriors in their pre-season encounter vs Newcastle Thunder earlier in 2022.
He also has had first team experience in the Championship as he had a two game spell at Oldham on loan last season scoring one try.
Head coach Gorley said: “Jack comes with plenty of wraps off Wigan’s Darrel Goulding. He’s a good young front row forward with plenty of size and skill, who’s been going well in the reserves. Jack has came through the Wigan youth system and captained the Academy.
“Hopefully this arrangement gives Jack the opportunity to show what he can do through stepping up in competition from the reserves.
“With the injuries we have at the minute, I’d like to thank Wigan for helping us out.”
It was a theme taken up by director Ashley Kilpatrick who said: “We start with a massive thank you to Wigan Warriors especially Darrell Goulding and Matty Peet who have agreed to let Jack join us for the next two weeks when we need that help due to our ongoing injury crisis.
“Jack is a mainstay of the Wigan system. He’s also an England youth international.
He has previous experience of the championship featuring for Oldham last season and scoring against the London Broncos.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Jack playing for us, He’s a tough lad and aggressive, who also has a very good skill level with ball in hand.”
Last week Whitehaven took Huddersfield Giants George Roby on a short term-loan deal and he made his debut at Halifax.
But Haven’s injury problems were laid bare when they could only field three substitutes and finished the game with 13 fit men.
