Zach Eckersley backed for big year as Wigan Warriors coach delivers Sam Eseh debut verdict
2026 could be the year when Wigan Warriors young gun Zach Eckersley becomes an established Super League winger, according to his coach Matt Peet.
Eckersley has been rewarded with the No. 2 shirt ahead of the 2026 campaign, and he couldn’t have wished for a better start to life in said jersey, scoring four tries in Wigan’s emphatic 83-0 win over Championship side Rochdale Hornets in the third round of the Challenge Cup on Sunday.
The 22-year-old is a product of Wigan’s youth system and was one of the standout performers at the Crown Oil Arena as the Warriors ran in 15 tries to book their place in the fourth round, taking his personal tally to 26 tries in 42 appearances for the first-team.
Having been handed the responsibility of owning a starting shirt number ahead of the new campaign, Eckersley repaid that faith in style, having bulked up and put on around five kilograms over a demanding pre-season programme.
"Zach looks good,” Peet said post-match. “He’s worked hard, and I think he’s going to have one of those seasons where he goes from a young player to a proven player at this level.
"He looks quality, both in attack and defence. His game is developing all the time, and that’s only credit to his own hard work.”
The short trip over to Rochdale also provided an opportunity for Wigan to blood fresh talent, with Leeds-born prop Sam Eseh making his first-team debut for the club.
The 22-year-old earned heritage number 1,140 as he pulled the cherry and white jersey on for the first time since arriving from Wakefield Trinity ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Eseh, who has enjoyed loan spells with Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers and Hull FC during his time with Wigan, impressed during his debut with his physical presence and energy through the middle.
“I thought he was good out there,” Peet said. “It will be the first of many. He has been out proving himself on loan and has developed himself physically.
"He is a great character, and the lads love playing with him, so it was important to get some minutes into him today because we’re going to use him in the season.”
Next up for Wigan is a trip to Castleford Tigers in Super League’s opening round on Sunday.