Wigan Warriors to explore different Jack Farrimond roles amid healthy selection dilemma

Matt Peet has revealed Wigan Warriors will experiment with Jack Farrimond having spells at hooker in the coming weeks - but insists the long-term vision for the homegrown talent is at halfback.

The 20-year-old has been one of Wigan’s standout performers this season, having been given an extended run in the first-team due to Bevan French’s lengthy injury absence.

Farrimond has made 16 appearances in 2026, scoring nine tries and collecting the Lance Todd Trophy after helping the Warriors defeat Hull KR in last month’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

With French now fit again, and Harry Smith remaining Wigan’s playmaker general, Peet has a healthy selection dilemma on his hands. One solution could be giving Farrimond opportunities at hooker during matches, spelling Brad O’Neill while also ensuring the youngster continues to gain valuable first-team experience.

Farrimond briefly featured at hooker during last Friday’s impressive 48-10 victory over Wakefield Trinity before being forced from the field for a head injury assessment after his gumshield flashed.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to York Knights, Peet confirmed the role is one Wigan intend to explore further.

“Yeah - I think in the short-term, it’s a position he can play,” said Peet when asked if spelling Farrimond at hooker is something he will look to do in the coming weeks.

“We’ve seen that he is not scared to dig his shoulder in and obviously he has got ability with the ball, but also, I think he is obviously a halfback for the long-term and playing those spells in there will teach him a lot defensively about what the middles have to go through, about repeat effort defence and he is going to get his physicality tested as well, so it can only be good for us.”

While Farrimond’s versatility could prove useful for Wigan over the coming months, Peet was full of praise for starting hooker O’Neill, who has churned out a number of big-minute displays this season.

The England international was named Player of the Match in the victory over Wakefield after another influential performance, continuing what has been an excellent campaign for the 23-year-old.

“We always say as staff, it’s funny that in certain games, people seem to pick him out when he’s been doing that most of the season and I thought it was a game where there were plenty of candidates for man of the match,” Peet said.

“I was made up that Brad got it, he deserves it, he’s in good form. He just seems to be thriving at the moment and the team is on the front foot, so he is getting more opportunities to show what he can do.

“I think the way the ruck is being policed, a lot of nines are having good seasons, and Brad is probably benefitting from us getting what we deserve from the ruck speed. He is obviously a tough lad, puts himself about, very fit, but he is bringing some craft with the ball as well which is good.”

Peet also shared praise for young winger Zach Eckersley, who has scored 22 tries in 18 appearances across all competitions this year, having enjoyed a big pre-season in which he added around five kilograms to his frame.

“Not just the pre-season, but how he has continued to work hard physically in the gym, with his nutrition, he’s had that ability since he was 11 years old - quick, skilful, very balanced ball runner,” Peet added.

“But now he has got that muscle on his frame as well and it’s probably brought a bit more confidence to him, so he is a pretty well-rounded player.”