RUGBY LEAGUE: Duo visit specialist

Wigan's Va'aiga Tuigamala and Jason Robinson visited a specialist yesterday after they were injured during the champions' thrilling Boxing Day victory against St Helens.

Tuigamala, who scored two tries in the 32-25 win at Knowsley Road that maintained Wigan's three-point lead in the Stones Bitter Championship, left the field on a stretcher at the end of the game with a knee injury and taken to hospital. Subsequent X-raysrevealed no broken bones, but the centre has suspected ligament damage.

Wigan had earlier seen Robinson carried off with an ankle problem in the 53rd minute. The Great Britain winger, who has just recovered from knee trouble, suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury which he first picked up during the Test series against Australia this autumn.

Wigan's Test second row forward Denis Betts, who heads for Australia at the end of the season, was another casualty from the triumph at St Helens - he also hurt his ankle.

Graeme West, the Wigan coach, said: "We will just have to wait and see with the injuries. We should know more tomorrow."

A former Wigan player is also troubled by injury. Andy Gregory, Salford's scrum-half, suffered a recurrence of knee trouble during their home defeat by Oldham on Boxing Day, and seems certain to miss the New Year's Day game at Bradford.

Widnes have signed the 25-year-old Australian centre, Sean Alvarez, to complete their overseas quota. Alvarez, whose parents are Spanish, has signed an 18-month contract after impressing in reserve trials. He almost joined Salford earlier this season butthey had no room on their quota.