Zach Eckersley’s pride at donning Wigan Warriors No. 2 jersey - ‘Something you dream of’
Homegrown talent Zach Eckersley is proudly donning the No. 2 jersey for Wigan Warriors this year.
The promotion to a starting jersey represented a landmark moment in a journey that has been building year on year.
“My time in the first-team has been good, I’ve enjoyed it,” Eckersley told Wigan TV.
“This is my fourth season now with the first-team, so I think each year has gradually got better and better, and last year was probably my best to date on a personal level.”
For a player who came through Wigan’s famed youth ranks after growing up in Oldham in a rugby family – his dad Chris played for Oldham and Warrington, and grandad Graham played for Oldham Rugby Union – the significance of the No. 2 shirt is not lost on him.
“Getting the number two this year is really special,” he said. “It’s something you dream of as a kid, especially growing up with all my family playing rugby, so to get a starting shirt at a club like Wigan is something special.”
Despite scoring 15 tries in 24 appearances last season and being named the club’s Young Player of the Year, Eckersley is clear where his priorities lie.
“2025 was obviously good for me, but the personal awards that I got, I’d swap for team accolades in a heartbeat if I could,” he continued. “Obviously, we didn’t win a trophy last season, which hopefully we can put right this year.”
Eckersley made his first-team debut in 2022 and has gone on to score 29 tries in 44 appearances to date, with the 22-year-old quick to pay tribute to his centre partner Adam Keighran.
“Playing in such a good team is almost easy because of the players around you,” he said. “If you do your part, they are going to do their part, and that helps you.
“Playing outside Adam on the wing, he is so good in the centres that I don’t have much work to do! If I just take my carries and I’m nailing my job, I know he is going to nail his role, so he just makes my job easier, especially when you’ve got good players inside you.”
That team-first mentality has been shaped by his development across the backline, with Eckersley comfortable playing centre and fullback, as well as wing.
“I think coming through, playing all the different positions in the backline has really helped me,” he said.
“Obviously, I’ve got number two this year, and I’ll be on the wing, but I know Matty (Peet) has said he sees me playing all different positions, so I think that’s something good that I’ve got going.”
Perhaps the highlight of his blossoming career came in the 2024 Challenge Cup final at Wembley. Drafted in after Keighran’s suspension, Eckersley scored in what was just his fifth first-team appearance for the Warriors as they lifted the Cup under the famous arch.
“It was one of the best weekends of my life,” Eckersley smiled. “Playing at Wembley is stuff you dream of as a kid, and if you’re having a beer with your family or mates, it’s something that comes up, and you talk about it. To score was special, and hopefully I can have more moments like that in my career.”