Wigan Warriors Prop Mike Cooper to Miss Derby Clash against St Helens
Wigan, [Current Date] – Wigan Warriors prop Mike Cooper has been ruled out of Friday’s highly anticipated derby match against rivals St Helens, according to Warriors coach Matt Peet. The England international was forced to leave the field during Wigan’s 24-6 victory over Leigh Leopards on Friday night after sustaining a head injury in a tackle.
Cooper, who left the game in a “groggy state” accompanied by the medical staff, failed the subsequent head injury assessment, triggering the return to play concussion protocol that will keep him sidelined for next week’s clash against St Helens.
“He’s alright, he’s disappointed but it’s one of them things,” Peet said in his post-match press conference. “The timing and coming together of two players, and he’ll sit down for a week. And rightly so (he won’t play next week), when it’s like that and it’s that clean, it’s important that the players are looked after.”
Despite the concerning injury, Peet expressed his satisfaction with his side’s overall performance, which saw them extend their lead at the top of the Super League table following St Helens’ defeat to Castleford Tigers on the same night.
“Really pleased,” Peet said. “I think we came up against a really good team, really determined with a lot to play for, (it was) intense, so it was a challenge with what happened to Mike Cooper early on in the game. There were lots of tests there today and I thought the group delivered.”
The absence of Cooper, a key player for the Warriors, will be a significant blow as they prepare to face their fierce rivals St Helens next Friday. However, Peet’s comments suggest that the club will prioritize the health and welfare of their players, even if it means resting Cooper for an additional period.
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