Wigan Warriors man on his ‘crazy’ year, Matt Peet words of wisdom and 2025 ambitions

Tom Forber could be forgiven for having to pinch himself following the dream way his season with Wigan Warriors came to an end.

The 21-year-old played an important role for the Cherry and Whites over the final months of the campaign as he returned from a spell in the treatment room to help Matt Peet’s side lift the League Leaders’ Shield and the Super League trophy. Forber featured in each of Wigan’s last eight games of the year off the bench and helped the club win all eight, with a try coming in a tight game against Catalans Dragons at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

However, having spent a chunk of the first half of the year out on loan at Championship side Barrow before being ruled out with an ankle issue, it’s fair to say the manner in which he finished the season would have been beyond his wildest imaginations. The youngster took it all in his stride, though, and he finds himself preparing to start pre-season training as someone who could prove to be an important member of Peet’s first-team moving forward.

Reflecting on the final weeks of the season and the Grand Final, Forber told Wigan Warriors’ club media: “I wasn’t sure if I’d be picked with coming back from injury and my little experience, but I found out I would be after our first session that week.

“Matt just explained how he had full confidence in me. He’s very honest and he doesn’t say anything he doesn’t mean. I’ve seen his passion for the club and the town since he was head of youth when I was in the scholars, so all his support added motivation to not let him down.

“I was buzzing when I got the nod to go on. Playing in an Old Trafford Grand Final is everyone’s dream and the whole experience was surreal – you’re filled with adrenaline the whole time so I was mainly trying to stay calm so I wouldn’t crash.

“From starting pre-season as an unused sub at Wakefield when the lights went out, to having my time in the Championship cut short through injury, it doesn’t feel real being sat here as a Super League champion – it’s crazy.”

On his ambitions for 2025, he added: “I just want to approach next season in the same way I did this year.

“I’ll come in looking to train as hard as I can so that I keep developing as a player and a person. We’ve got a strong group who buys in to everything together – I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”