Brad O’Neill played his best game for Wigan Warriors in their win over Wakefield Trinity, Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin believes.
O’Neill, who was named Man of the Match in the 48-10 win, made 39 tackles with just one miss and was part of an aggressive Wigan pack that “schooled” what has been a formidable Wakefield middle unit this season.
His Player of the Match award was made even more impressive given that winger Noah Hodkinson scored four tries and was another player to put on a career-best performance.
At 23, the hooker is closing in on his 100th Super League appearance, and is a firm contender for a spot on the plane for the Rugby League World Cup.
His efforts against Trinity earned the plaudits of both Wilkin and Jodie Cunningham, who joined Brian Carney as part of Sky’s broadcast of last night’s coverage.
Post-match, Wilkin said: “[It was an] international standard performance from a nine.
“Like, State of Origin standard performance, from a young nine. It’s as good as it gets, the only thing is his running game, isn’t it? Which is so much secondary to that defensive stuff in big games.
“…He’s got a lot of the assets you need to be a great hooker, and I think that’s the best game I’ve seen him play for Wigan.”
Wilkin also went as far as comparing him to some of Wigan’s great hookers of the Super League era, in what is tremendously high praise for the star.
He said: “I think you see an evolution of players, don’t you, over time?
“If Terry Newton was the raw product, then Micky McIlorum was the more refined version of that product, with aggression, physicality, intimidation, but less of the rough edges.
“What we see in Brad O’Neill is a fully polished up diamond of that. He’s got all the aggression and physicality. He’s intimidating… but there’s none of the baggage with him either, which is why he goes unnoticed as well.”
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Who is England’s best hooker ahead of the Rugby League World Cup?
New England boss Brian McDermott will have plenty of key selection decisions to make towards the end of the season, but perhaps none more so than his hooker selection.
You would argue that there are four main candidates for the role, with O’Neill one of those, especially after he missed out on Ashes selection at the end of last season.
Jez Litten and Daryl Clark were two that then-boss Shaun Wane opted to go for, whilst Warrington’s Danny Walker is another that has produced efforts worthy of a call-up.
Asked about the upcoming dilemma for the World Cup, Cunningham responded: “Both [Litten and O’Neill] make the plane for me.
“Then you’ve got Danny Walker, who I think is playing well. Daz Clark. It’s a position we’re probably quite blessed, and the back end of the season and the form they show is going to be really important to that.
“Brad O’Neill, from his performance tonight against a good Wakefield side, I think definitely has put his hand up to be on that plane.”
