Warrington hit by Johnson injury blow

Worse still, the 29-year-old has been told that he will need full knee reconstruction surgery.

It has not been an enjoyable time for Johnson, who missed the last two months of last season with a neck injury, and he has only recently returned to the starting line-up after a month's lay-off with a hamstring pull.

The news could not have come at a worse time for the Wolves, as, just 24 hours earlier, another Test player, full-back Stuart Reardon, was told that he would be ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, the same injury that brought a halt to stand-off Chris Bridge's campaign back in February.

Wigan Warriors have confirmed that the scheduled home Super League fixture with Huddersfield Giants on Friday June 6 has now been postponed due to work on the JJB Stadium pitch. A new date and kick-off time for this fixture will be announced in due course.

The club have now received final confirmation that extensive pitch renovations will start immediately after the home game with the Warrington Wolves on May 16 and they are scheduled to take up to six weeks to complete.

The RFL are investigating a claim that Hull FC fielded an ineligible player in their Challenge Cup fifth-round win over Widnes last Sunday.

Prop Jamie Thackery re-signed for the club from Leeds on March 27, more than three weeks after the Cup deadline, but he played in the team's 32-18 win over Widnes.

A spokesman for Hull FC said that the club would not be making any comment on the matter at the present time.

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup took place on Monday evening and holders Saint Helens were handed an away tie at Hull Kingston Rovers.

Saints coach Darren Anderson, who will be returning to Australia at the end of the season, will want to leave on a high note by winning the trophy, although he may face some family conflict as his brother is married to Rovers coach Justin Morgan's sister.

League leaders Leeds Rhinos will face Wigan, who eased through their fifth-round tie on Monday night with an 106-8 victory over National League One side Whitehaven. The other draws paired Bradford at home to Hull FC, while Wakefield Wildcats host League two side Oldham. The ties will be held on the weekend beginning May 31.