MATT PEET reckons Shea O’Connor will become a Wigan regular – with some help from teammate Brad O’Neill and the club’s strength and conditioning staff.
The emerging front-rower has seized his opportunity from Peet, who has always been happy to promote players from the pathways system he worked in and helped mould before stepping up to first-team level.
O’Connor, an Orrell St James product, was Wigan’s Academy player of the year in 2025, and made his debut in the May Super League meeting with Hull KR, when Peet blooded a string of youngsters as he rotated his squad ahead of the Challenge Cup final against the same opposition.
And the 18-year-old has remained firmly in the frame, with Peet liking what he has seen from a player who has family connections with hooker O’Neill, 24.
“The pair of them are close, and I think Brad has guided Shea somewhat,” explained Peet.
“They are good for one another, and that’s good for us.”
O’Neill, who is in new England coach Brian McDermott’s World Cup thinking, has become a key player for his club, and Peet is confident O’Connor will follow suit.
“He is powerful and fit, and he has a well-rounded game for a frontrower,” he explained.
“Shea understands the game enough to ball play, he is very tidy in his actions, and he doesn’t have dips when he goes into longer minutes.
“He has a good mentality, and the way he has handled himself gives you the confidence as a coach to throw him in again.
“Shea’s already got a good base physically, and I’d imagine he’s going to improve quite dramatically over the next few years. Our strength and conditioning staff have players doing the right things at the right time.
“All in all, there’s plenty to be excited about.”