Young Wigan ace tipped for top

[josie andrews]

PAT Richards has tipped Jack Hughes for the top after the young gun once again impressed at Castleford.

Rookie Hughes put in another fine display at the Probiz Coliseum, laying on a walk-in score for Richards and contributing a solid defensive effort as the Tigers were restricted to one try.

Little was known of Hughes before this season, but the 20-year-old has stepped into the breach following George Carmont’s injury-enforced lay-off.

Which could leave coach Shaun Wane with a very welcome selection headache when the veteran Samoan recovers from a broken thumb next month.

“Jack’s doing really, really well – he did great in pre-season and he’s picked it up since the season started,” enthused Richards.

“With Georgey being out, he’s really stepped up and is doing a really good job.

“It’s tough for any young kid coming in to the side, but the thing to remember is that it’s still only a game of footy, and you can’t really worry about anything else.

“All you can do is focus on the job in hand and, credit to him, he’s eager to learn and he’s got on with the job superbly.

“He’s a bit of a manufactured centre – his natural position is in the back row – but he’s listening to everyone around him and he’s showing plenty of enthusiasm.

“We’re looking forward to Georgey coming back – but Jack coming in has given us even more options and that’s only good for the team.”

Hughes and his colleagues were largely overshadowed by Sam Tomkins’ show-stopping hat-trick on his 100th appearance for the club at Castleford.

While admitting Tomkins’s display had been ‘magical’, Richards insists the team as a whole is at the top of its game just now.

“We’ve done a lot of hard work in pre-season and it’s starting to show with some good performances,” he added.

“It’s just a joy to play with these boys at the moment. Everybody’s doing their job and working for each other.

“I thought we all aimed up on the weekend and scored some pretty good tries.”

http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wigan-w ... _1_4292354

[Conman]

Jack Hughes has been great cover for Carmont.

I may have to check, but I don't think he's missed a tackle this season! That is superb for a rookie centre.

On another note, I still think in years to come Jack will be an international class back rower.

[markill]

Jack Hughes has been great cover for Carmont.

I may have to check, but I don't think he's missed a tackle this season! That is superb for a rookie centre.

On another note, I still think in years to come Jack will be an international class back rower.

I think he could have become an international class back rower if we dind't need him to play centre much more than we would back row.
I remember in the 9's event last year he played at centre after a few first team games in the pack and was an absolute beast at that level.
Good to see him contributing more to the attack and setting up that try for Pat on Sunday.
Defence at the line or marker is pretty flawless from what we've seen, but I wonder if teams might pinpoint him with kicks and find out whether he has it with that side of the defensive play at centre.

[TonyH]

Jack Hughes has been tipped by some to take over from George Carmont however isn't he originally a second row? Many people did not like Joel Tomkins in the centre position so what about Hughes? Is it because he's a new kid who has came in and done well? Will he move to centre permanently, maybe have a few bad games and people begin comparing him to Joel?

[First Try Tickle]

I think the way we have been throwing the ball around recently and using dummy runners, it has created loads of space for the centres. Because of this Hughes and Goulding are looking very good. But i also think if Gelling had come in on sunday he would also have had a field day.

Jack Hughes is a second rower, but is young enough to learn the centre role. His pass to Pat on Sunday was brilliant centre play, he drew his centre then waited for the winger to come in.

But i think the test will come agaist more experienced players, there isn't to many around, but Warrington have Bridge and Atkins so we will see then. Then again George might be ok then so maybe we wont.

Hughes looks good at the moment though and is a very big lad, so even if he doesn't make it at centre then he will do ok in the pack.

But this is like the Gelling topic, Gelling may not look ready playing in the U20's, but if he got a chance running at the side of Sam and Hock then would probably look 10 times better.

all in all it means the future's bright, in a position that most people were concenred about a month ago.