Wigan Warriors promote academy star to first team ahead of 2023

Wigan Warriors are one of rugby league’s historic teams and they’re one of the most successful in Super League history with the promotion of their youth being one of the key reasons that they’ve been a force for so long.

That has continued under Matt Peet as the club have announced that they have promoted academy product Jacob Douglas to the first team.

Douglas joins up with the 2022 Challenge Cup winners on a two-year contract with an option for a third year.

Wigan Warriors are delighted to announce that Academy product Jacob Douglas has been promoted to the first team and has signed a two-year contract with the Club, with the option of a third year.

🗞️ Full story 👇#WWRL https://t.co/qcibYnDNYz

— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) January 13, 2023

The club announced the news via their Twitter page and released the following information about Douglas to their website.

“Douglas has progressed through the Warriors Scholarship and Academy system since 2019. In his first season, he suffered a broken collarbone and his second season in 2020 was out of action due to the pandemic.

“The 18-year old winger was a consistent starter for the Wigan Academy side in 2021, as well as the Reserves and Academy teams in 2022. He also featured in Wigan’s 42-12 pre-season win over Newcastle Thunder last year.

“Described as a good athlete with speed, power and aerobic endurance; Douglas has shown great individual hard work and a desire to learn and improve which sees him promoted into the first team set-up.”

Douglas will now join a side that is captained by Liam Farrell, another of Wigan’s academy products who has since gone on to have an illustrious career in Cherry and White.

The youngster said: “I’d been training with the first team for about a month before December. Me and Matt (Peet) had a few conversations about how I was doing and he was pleased.

“I was offered a full-time deal which I was over the moon with. It’s two years with another year option so hopefully, I’ll be here for the next three-years.”

Executive Director, Kris Radlinski added: “Jacob’s story is a great and inspiring one. He has overcome injury as a youngster and worked so hard to get his chance and he has been a revelation in pre-season.

“When he told the senior squad that he would be joining them full time, the room cheered and they mobbed him out of respect. It is a great lesson for any young player. We all can’t wait to work with him and see where his career takes him.”