Kiwi ace Gelling won't make the cut this season!

Fans can expect more hair-raising moments from Anthony Gelling this year - quite literally!
Anthony GellingAnthony Gelling
Anthony Gelling

The Kiwi centre, who returned to action last Friday night, has been dared by some team-mates not to have his hair cut until the end of the season.

So far, he is going along with the challenge – and even made his comeback against Hull KR last week with a bandanna to stop his long locks getting into his eyes!

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Gelling said: “A few of the guys have dared me to go through the season without cutting my hair.

“I’m up for it, I’ll see how I go.

“it’s not too bad right now. When it’s hot, I get some water on it and it’s like a nice cold sponge on top!

“I’ll see what happens.”

Gelling crossed for a try last Friday night, following up a breathtaking break from Lewis Tierney as Warriors claimed a dramatic 20-18 win.

It was the Cook Island international’s first game alongside Sam Tomkins since 2013 – although the mercurial No.1 is rested for tonight’s trip to Widnes.

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“It’s always frustrating when you’re injured,” said Gelling, who has been nursing a pectoral injury.

“But Faz and Lockers have been out so I’ve had some company on the sideline.

“It’s good to be back, and it’s been a while since I played with Sam.

“He’s not training yet, he just sits in the physio room, mister precious!

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“The way he makes most out of open space, he makes people around him look like superstars.”

Gelling was last week hailed the “form centre of Super League” by his coach Shaun Wane ahead of his return from a month-long lay-off.

His physical presence and athleticism has never been in doubt, and this year he has cut down the errors and poor-choices which used to blight his displays.

He was one of Wane’s first signings when he succeeded Michael Maguire as head coach at the end of 2011.

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Gelling was working a construction job and playing part-time for Auckland Vulcans when he was offered the chance to join Wigan as a “project player”.

He made his debut in a 37-36 defeat at Widnes, and Warriors’ trip to the same venue this weekend presents as good an opportunity as any to take stock of Gelling’s progress over the last four years.

The 25-year-old said he learned one important lesson from his Wigan debut, saying he didn’t finish the game exhausted – and has since then tried to ensure he always leaves the pitch knowing he has given his all.

With his strike in the back-line, Wigan look in a good position to continue their assault on both fronts – at the top of the Super League ladder and in the Challenge Cup.

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“We’re up there, and the sides who are ahead of us, we get another crack at them before we know who the league leaders are,” he added.

“But Widnes is a tough ground to go to. It seems every time we play there it’s a close game.

“I don’t know what it is, they’re a bit of a bogey team on their place.”