KRUISE LEEMING has admitted that he had one major fear about joining Wigan Warriors before penning a four-year deal at the Lancashire club.
Having joined from NRL side Gold Coast Titans, Leeming is keen to continue the club’s achievements in recent years which has included a Challenge Cup triumph in 2022 and a League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final success in 2023.
However, the Eswatini-born hooker has revealed that he ‘feared’ that the Wigan players would not have that continued motivation to win another Super League title after their success last season – a fear that has quickly been extinguished following Leeming’s “seamless transition”.
“I’ve loved it, it’s been a seamless transition. Obviously being away with the pre-season camp, it’s fast tracked me getting to know the lads as I’ve been around them a lot,” Leeming told League Express.
“It’s been what I thought it would be and more really. The humbleness of the group even after coming off the back of a Grand Final win last year is amazing and is probably a massive factor into why they’ve been so successful over the years.
“It’s also continued success, not just every now and then. They seem to be successful for a long period of time and that is down to the humbleness of the group.
“That was one of my biggest fears when I came to the club, the motivation of the club after winning the Grand Final – do they want to win another or rest on their laurels? But I’ve been pleasantly surprised in that respect.”
Leeming believes that the Wigan club prides itself on bringing in good people first, rather than good players.
“I’ve touched on it before. The culture is a driving factor of the club and we have to be a good person first and then that leads into being a good rugby player.
“I don’t know this for certain but I’m very sure if you are good rugby player but not a good person then you wouldn’t be a Wigan player.
“If you spoke to any of the new lads, it would be exactly what I’ve said about how welcoming the club has been, how humble the group has been and how good the culture is, it’s hard to not enjoy it.
“We work hard as well and another part of the ingredients of being a good player and having a good culture is working hard. That sounds daunting at first but you grow to love and enjoy it.
“I think if you asked any of the other new signings then they would have a very similar opinion.”
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