Wigan Warriors put on a show in Las Vegas with Junior Nsemba being one of the standout players and even his teammates are in awe of his incredible rise.
Whilst Nsemba debuted for Wigan in 2022 and made 15 appearances in 2023, it was his 2024 campaign that saw him explode onto the scene.
Still a teenager for much of the campaign, Nsemba made a total of 28 appearances and went from option off the bench to being one of the first names on the team sheet.
That saw him earn Dream Team honours and be named Super League Young Player of the Year, an award that he still qualifies for in 2025 and you’d expect him to win if he keeps his current form going.
Saturday night in Vegas showcased his form to the max with the second-rower grabbing a try assist, making over 100 metres and a whopping seven tackle busts as Wigan won 48-24 against Warrington.
Only Bevan French, who was crowned Man of the Match, had more tackle busts but the 2023 Man of Steel raved about Nsemba in his post-match interview.
“I don’t even know how to explain him anymore,” French told Sky Sports.
“He’s just going beyond expectations and the crazy thing is that there’s still so much growth to come. I hope I’m around to see when that comes.”
Nsemba has been locked into a lengthy deal tying him to the club until the end of 2030 season, whilst French is contracted until the end of the 2028 campaign, meaning all being well he will see that growth.
‘Devastating’ Wigan Warriors man sends message to NRL
“Green light Bevan French!” 🟢 pic.twitter.com/0vD4egkzaq
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) March 1, 2025
Whilst Nsemba was impressive, French was the star as he so often is on the big occasion. Involved at the heart of everything good that Wigan did, the Australian copped the Man of the Match medal in a performance that pundit Jon Wilkin claimed sent a message to the NRL.
“Bevan French is just devastating,” Wilkin said on Sky Sports.
“He looked up for showing people in the NRL who had maybe forgotten about him what he’s all about.”
French has certainly made headlines Down Under but as referenced, he’s contracted for the next four seasons with Wigan Warriors.
Reflecting on the game himself, the biggest entertainer in Super League emphasised Wigan’s desire to entertain out in Vegas.
He said: “We made it clear that we wanted to be entertaining with it being the first time a Super League team has got the platform to be here.
“I think both teams have done that tonight and hopefully we set the platform for next year and have a Super League back again.”
Expanding on that, he said: “We just wanted to be flamboyant and have everyone taking it up a notch. We’ve got all the eyes (on us), it wasn’t just for Wigan in general, who we play for a our community every week, but this was for Super League. I think everyone, on both teams probably stepped it up a notch tonight.
“We just wanted to be physical. We wanted to put a show on for Super League in general. It wasn’t just in attack but the defence as well, the physical side of things.”
