Wigan Warriors academy product George O'Loughlin earns first-team opportunity after pathway progression
Wigan Warriors’ commitment to developing homegrown talent has been reinforced with the promotion of George O’Loughlin into the first-team, a moment that brings pride for his dad Sean, who will be coaching him this season!
George, a back-rower or centre, played his junior rugby for Orrell St James and Wigan St Judes before progressing through the Warriors’ youth ranks.
The 19-year-old is tackling his first full pre-season with Matt Peet’s side, marking another step forward in his development at the club his father captained with such distinction.
For assistant coach Sean, however, the occasion is more about recognising hard work than celebrating lineage.
"I’m obviously made up for him, but it’s not much different for me,” Sean told Wigan Today. “When he’s here, I just treat him like a player.
"I’m pleased for him, not just for the rugby, but just for the fact that he has worked hard and got an opportunity. Whatever that would have been, I’d have felt the same if it were in a different walk of life or a different career path... I’d have been just as pleased for him.
"It’s just nice to see kids getting rewarded for hard work, and for me, that’s nice to see. I know he’s appreciative of the opportunity he’s got, but he knows there is a lot of work involved in it as well.”
Whilst George is still relatively unknown to the wider Wigan fanbase, attention will naturally turn to what kind of player he might become. Sean, though, is reluctant to overstate his son’s attributes, preferring to let his rugby do the talking.
"I feel lads his age are still finding the game a little bit and still finding out what works for them and what doesn’t,” Sean said.
"His position is back-row/centre. He is pretty quick and has a decent skillset, but I’m not pumping his tyres up!
“I think it’s for him to make his own mark, not for me to say what he’s about. People will make their own mind up on what he’s like as a player… He’ll get enough criticism just carrying the name!
"He is a good lad, and he knows the script – he knows what it’s like to be around a professional environment, so I know he’ll get his head down and work hard.”