Lockers Excited by Giants Opener

[josie andrews]

Wigan begin the defence of their Super League crown this Friday night at the DW Stadium as the Warriors entertain Huddersfield Giants in their season opener, the game has an 8pm kick off.

Wigan go into 2014 as the team to beat following their double success in 2013 and Skipper Sean O'Loughlin told us the game last Friday at Langtree Park was a good test in preparation for this week and the visit of Paul Anderson's men,

"It was a good hit out, it was obviously important to get a win but the standard of the game was pretty high for a friendly and for a game so early on, it was a tough encounter for us.

"We saw last year how well Huddersfield played, we had some real tough battles against them during the year and we are expecting another tough physical one against them this time as well. It is a great way for us to start off the season and a chance to play the team that finished top of the League last season, it's a chance to see where we are at, what we need to improve on with one eye on that World Club Challenge as well, a tough workout is really important to us."

Asked about the strength of the Wigan squad going into the new campaign, he added,

"We have lost quite a few players from last year but the boys that have come in and the boys we have from last year have another year under their belt have matured and physically we have seven new players perhaps pushing for three or four places. The squad looks strong, I suppose the proof is in the pudding if we turn up on Friday but at the minute we are quite confident with the way we are travelling."

Make sure you get down to the DW Stadium for Friday's game to see the exciting season opener, tickets can be purchased in person from the DW Stadium Ticket Office, by calling the Ticket Office hotline on 0871 66 33 552 ( calls cost 10p per minute from a BT landline, other operators may vary) and online click here.


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[josie andrews]

O'Loughlin: Wigan Back at Square One

Wigan captain, Sean O'Loughlin, admits the Warriors are "starting from scratch" when they face Huddersfield in tomorrow night's Super League opener.


Despite doing the double last year, he knows they have to put that behind them if they want to go on to greater success.


Speaking to Wigan TV reporter, Kelly O'Donnell, he said:


"We got the accolades last year.


There's more attention on us but doing the double goes out of the window now.
It's all about what we do from this point on."


O'Loughlin also revealed the team he believes will have the biggest impact on the competition in 2014:


"Salford are coming into this as a bit of an unknown.


They are going to be a lot stronger than they were last year.


With the players they've signed, on their day they're going to be able to turn up and beat anybody."


See the full interview with Sean - and other Super League previews - on www.wiganwarriors.com/tv

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[josie andrews]

Sean O'Loughlin believes winning Super League opener can give Wigan a Rooster booster

The Warriors captain insists his team's focus is on their fixture against Huddersfield Giants ahead of the World Club Challenge in Sydney later this month

Sean O’Loughlin reckons Wigan can take a Giant step towards world ­domination with victory over ­Huddersfield.

Last season’s double winners face Sydney Roosters in the NRL champs’ backyard on February 22 for the World Club Challenge title.

But ‘Lockers’ first wants Wigan to take care of domestic business in the First Utility Super League opener on Friday night.

“Everyone wants to be part of the squad going over to Australia and hopefully to do something great,” said O’Loughlin, who lifted the Challenge Cup last August and the SL Grand Final trophy two months later.

“So the Huddersfield game isn’t an after-thought. It is a massive part of preparing us to face the Roosters.

“Huddersfield are a big set and it is going to be tough. But it is the type of game we want before we get on that plane.

“So while the staff have done plenty of homework on the Roosters the players’ prep has been mostly on ­Huddersfield.”

And Wigan are right to be wary of Paul Anderson’s Giants. On the way to top spot for the first time in 81 years in 2013, they beat Wigan twice in the regular season

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