Rugby League: Betts offers to prop up injury-hit Wigan

DENIS BETTS has volunteered to play prop for the first time to help Wigan out of a front-row crisis in tomorrow's championship decider at home to Castleford, writes Dave Hadfield.

Betts, the Great Britain second row who has also played in the backs for Wigan, made the offer after Neil Cowie joined Kelvin Skerrett and Andy Platt on the injured list. Lightweight back-rowers Mike Forshaw and Sam Panapa are in contention to play blind-side prop. Phil Clarke and Andrew Farrar will return after missing the match at Warrington on Sunday.

Emosi Koloto, the Widnes and New Zealand forward, has been told to retire by a specialist who has examined his latest neck injury. Koloto had been hoping to make a comeback against Wigan in the Challenge Cup final on 1 May.

Another New Zealander, the Salford coach Kevin Tamati, is to consider his position at the club after their last match of the season against Warrington on Sunday. Tamati has a fourth year on his contract to run, but he is disillusioned with the side's recent run of 13 defeats in 17 games.