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Wigan Warriors coach addresses Las Vegas dilemma as utility stakes claim

Wigan Warriors

Following Wigan Warriors’ pre-season victory over Oldham one youngster may have put himself in Las Vegas contention although assistant coach Thomas Leuluai has assessed the problem the club faces.

Wigan defeated the Roughyeds 28-16 at the weekend in front of over 3,000 fans with the Super League champions using the game as an opportunity to get minutes into the legs for some established first-team forwards and offering opportunities to their young backs.

They also allowed assistant coach Thomas Leuluai to oversee the game and the former Kiwi international has spoken on one of those standout players from that game.

18-year-old Taylor Kerr played alongside last year’s breakout youngster Jack Farrimond in the halves, however, Kerr is also adept at hooker or in the back-row and that versatility was what Leuluai praised.

“It’s just a sign of a quality player,” Leuluai explained to NRL.com.

Kerr was one of five academy players to sign a senior contract last year and Leuluai praised the impact of all those who played on Sunday, explaining that it makes for an incredibly difficult process when picking the squad who travel to Las Vegas to face Warrington Wolves in Round Three.

He explained: “They’re all in that squad for a reason. We’ve got good depth. The guys today, they haven’t done themselves any harm, have they?

“Who’s going to Vegas? I don’t know when he (head coach Matty Peet) is picking that, but the guys today have made a good account of themselves and should be happy.”

Wigan Warriors utility on jump to first-team as signing sets Vegas goal

One man who is understandably keen to be on the plane is the sole signing that Wigan made – George Hirst, who signed for the Warriors from their weekend opponents Oldham.

Hirst is expected to spend parts of the season on loan with Oldham but he understands the fight he has on his hands to beat out some of the other players in the squad.

“I’d love to go to Vegas,” he admitted to NRL.com, before adding: “With the squad we’ve got over here at Wigan it’s a big fight for places. It’s down to me really. Train well, play well. I’d love to go but it’s not my choice.

“All the lads want to go. We’ll find out closer to the time. There’ll be a few lads disappointed.”

As for Taylor Kerr, who impressed Leuluai, he spoke with the club’s media about his performance and more specifically playing in the halves alongside Farrimond.

He explained: “It felt good to be back out there playing. We’ve been in working hard since November so it was nice to finally be able to play together as a team and show how our hard work has paid off.

“I was a half-back as a junior, but I’ve only played there once at Wigan which was in my first year. I was told two weeks ago that I’d be playing in the halves and since then the lads have helped me out. It was a different challenge but I’ll play anywhere – I love playing rugby.”

On making the jump into the first-team environment, something he did alongside Nathan Lowe, Lukas Mason, Noah Hodkinson and Kian McDermott, Kerr labelled it as ‘challenging’.

Kerr said: “It’s been challenging but that’s only going to make us better as players and individuals. The lads have all been welcoming and coming up with other Academy players has made the transition easier. The work we’ve done has definitely put me in good stead for matches as I felt ready out there.”

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