The five Wigan Warriors youngsters featuring in Championship loan action this weekend
Five youngsters from Wigan Warriors will feature in the Championship this weekend in loan action.
As the Warriors make the journey across the Channel to the south of France this weekend to face Toulouse Olympique in Round Four of Super League, five youngsters will be getting valuable minutes under their belts in the Championship.
On Thursday night, Salford confirmed the loan signings of six players, including four from Wigan in the shape of Dayon Sambou, Jonny Vaughan, Lukas Mason and George O’Loughlin.
Outside-back Sambou and Vaughan, who can play back-row or centre, both joined Wigan in the off-season on four-year contracts from St Helens and have yet to make their first-team debuts in cherry and white. They both featured for the Reserves last weekend as John Duffy’s side opened their 2026 campaign with a 20-6 win over Leeds Rhinos at Robin Park Arena. Meanwhile, utility forward Mason and back-rower O’Loughlin have both featured for Salford on loan already this season.
Salford have also signed St Helens duo Agnatius Paasi and Harvey Braddish on loan from St Helens, with the six loanees set to feature for the Reds in their trip to Workington Town on Sunday afternoon.
Elsewhere, Warriors youngster Jack Purtill – the son of former Leigh player and coach Kieron – has joined Swinton Lions on loan ahead of their Championship clash with Newcastle Thunder on Sunday. Purtill, who also played for Wigan reserves in their win over Leeds last weekend, is primarily a hooker who can also play in the halves.
“One of the big things that stood out to us is Jack’s work ethic,” said Swinton coach Paul Wood. "It’s not unusual for him to make 40 tackles in a game, and that kind of effort and commitment is exactly what we’re looking for, but he’s not just about effort, Jack’s got a smart rugby brain and gets the basics right.”
In addition, Harvey Makin remains on a season-long loan at Oldham while continuing to train with Wigan’s first-team, although the Roughyeds do not have a game this weekend. Tiaki Chan and George Hirst are still on short-term loans with Catalans Dragons and Castleford Tigers respectively. Furthermore, Kruise Leeming and Tyler Dupree are on season-long loans at Catalans and Toulouse Olympique respectively.