WIGAN hooker Brad O’Neill might have signed a five-year contract extension, but he won’t be taking anything for granted when it comes to making coach Matt Peet’s teamsheet.
The 22-year-old is working his way back to full fitness after a dreaded anterior cruciate ligament injury, which prevented him making a second Grand Final appearance and ruled out involvement in England’s Test series against Samoa.
After recovering, he is expected to be available by April and he will be aiming to add to his achievements before he suffered the knee injury – a first-team debut in 2021, Challenge Cup wins in 2022 and 2024, the Grand Final success of 2023, a World Club Challenge triumph in February and an England outing against France in June.
The lengthening of a Wigan deal which already ran to 2027 showed the faith the club places in O’Neill, who came through a development system in which further investment is being made by Mike Danson, who owns both his hometown’s Rugby League and football clubs.
It also provides O’Neill with some long-term security as he aims to progress his game under Peet, his trusted assistants Tommy Leuluai and Sean O’Loughlin and the rest of an extensive backroom staff.
But as Wigan aim to build on last season’s four-out-of-four trophy haul, O’Neill is quick to point out: “Everyone needs to keep striving for success and no one can take their foot off the gas.
“Everyone here has a winning mentality and the motivation to work as hard as possible for the badge, themselves and their team-mates.
“That’s how it has to be to get success in any tough competition. Doing all those little things that can help swing tight matches is really important.
“Within the group it means everyone has to be on their game all the time. If you drop those levels, you’re out of the team, because someone else will take your place.”
While Wigan have made just one addition to their squad in Oldham backrower George Hirst, O’Neill says the latest five youngsters promoted from the Academy, fullback Noah Hodkinson, loose-forward Taylor Kerr, centre Nathan Lowe and props Lukas Mason and Kian McDermott, are already making their mark.
“This club has long had a reputation for producing its own players and giving them opportunities, and I’ve seen first-hand what a great system it is,” he continued.
“With the owner investing even more into it, hopefully we will get the best talent out there and we will see some really good players coming through to join a long list.
“The established players do what they can to welcome new faces into the group, help them settle and make sure they are ready to step in if the chance arises. I’ve been trying to do that with the lads who have come through.
“Of course that means more competition for the existing players, but that’s the way it should be.”