Why Shea O'Connor doubled up for Wigan Warriors last weekend amid praise from coach

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet has praised the attitude of youngster Shea O’Connor after the teenage prop doubled up for both the first-team and reserves last weekend.

The 18-year-old prop featured from the bench in Wigan’s 24-10 Super League win over Huddersfield Giants on Friday night but, after not getting as many minutes as initially expected, turned out for the reserves in their 26-16 victory over Wakefield Trinity on Sunday.

Peet revealed it was O’Connor himself who pushed for the additional game time, earning praise from the Warriors boss.

“He asked, really,” Peet said when asked about why O’Connor doubled up.

“Obviously, he didn’t get the minutes he was due to get, there was a sin-bin and just the flow of the game, so he just gave us a nudge on the way home on the coach, and it wasn’t something I was too concerned about, but he felt the minutes would do him good.

“His heart’s in the right place, he doesn’t want to fall behind and be chasing it up doing extra fitness during the week, so it’s a good sign, and he’s in a good place.”

O’Connor has made four senior appearances since making his debut in May and has quickly impressed with his strong performances in the middle.

Peet admitted he has been impressed by the way the youngster has adapted to life in Super League and would not rule out handing him a starting spot over time.

“Of course I’d consider it,” he said. “I consider the team every week - what’s best for the group and what’s best for the players, and he is certainly someone in the future who will go on to start games for Wigan.

“I would agree with you, since I’ve seen him play for our academy and reserves, I’ve been impressed with him whenever I’ve watched him.

“I think he has got quite a well-rounded game for a front-rower, he’s powerful, but he’s fit. He understands the game enough to ball-play and he is very tidy in his actions.

“He doesn’t really have dips when he goes into longer minutes, so there is plenty to be excited about and I think that game at Hull KR (when he debuted), with how well he handled that, gives you the confidence then as a coach to throw him in again.”

Despite already possessing an imposing frame, Peet believes there is still much more to come physically from the former Orrell St James junior.

“He is going to improve physically, I imagine, quite dramatically over the next few years, but he has got a good base,” Peet added. “He is just a big, tough kid and well put together.

“I think most of it is in his mentality, but he has come through our system and the strength and conditioning staff take them through the right things at the right time, but he is certainly someone who has got a good base.”