Noble wants Warriors to keep the pot boiling (From The Bolton News)

Noble wants Warriors to keep the pot boiling

3:53pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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BRIAN Noble has called for more of the same ahead of Wigan’s game with Harlequins tonight.

The Warriors coach was thrilled with his side’s 36-28 victory at Hull KR following a turbulent week for the cherry and whites.

The Super League club were thrown into turmoil last week after it was discovered Gareth Hock had tested positive for cocaine and is facing a two-year ban, while there are major doubts over Noble’s future after it emerged the club had approached former New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney about taking over at the JJB Stadium next season.

But Wigan responded in emphatic style in Sunday’s morale-boosting win — and Noble, pictured, wants his players to reproduce that spirit against the Londoners.

“It is always a tough place to go Craven Park so to come away with the points and a really good performance showed a lot of character, but we’ve got to back it up now,” he said. “We’ve got some talent in this team but the challenge is to match the attitude from last week and allow that talent to come to the fore.

“It’s an important game — they all are now.”

But the Wigan chief is not expecting an easy evening against fifth-placed Harlequins, who are coached by Brian McDermott, a close friend and someone who played alongside and under Noble at the Bradford Bulls.

“They are tough and efficient,” said Noble.

“They do all the little things that test a side.

“They are a big team; the front row, back row and centres are not small and have a decent amount of speed. We need to be ready.”

Wigan will be without Tim Smith, who dislocated his shoulder against Hull and will learn next week if he requires surgery, while Martin Gleeson will undergo a late fitness test on the hamstring injury which sidelined on Sunday.

Youngster Mark Flanagan will take Smith’s place in the squad, while rising star Sam Tomkins, who this week signed a three-year extension to his current contract that will keep him at Wigan until the end of 2014, is expected to be included from the start after coming off the substitutes’ bench and impressing at Hull.

The Warriors are set to discover Hock’s fate next week when the result of his B sample is released.

Castleford second row Brett Ferres has signed a new three-year contract with the Tigers.

The 23-year-old had two years remaining on his previous deal but has agreed new terms and removed a get-out clause from his contract.