Wigan Warriors' Gabe Hamlin using his Grand Final snub as motivation for the World Club Challenge

Discuss all things Wigan Warriors. Comments and opinions on all aspects of the club's performance are welcome.
Post Reply
josie andrews
Posts: 35576
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:17 pm
Location: Wigan
Contact:

Wigan Warriors' Gabe Hamlin using his Grand Final snub as motivation for the World Club Challenge

Post by josie andrews »

Australian forward Gabe Hamlin is hoping for the chance to prove himself against the NRL champions - after missing out on the Grand Final squad. The 22-year-old joined the Warriors from South Sydney, where he made 47 appearances for the club's under-20s side, and is desperate to face their old rivals Sydney Roosters at the DW Stadium on Sunday

Hamlin, whose two-year contract runs out this year, is expected to be on the bench after catching the eye of new interim head coach Adrian Lam as a substitute in Wigan's opening two Super League games.

"I hope so," said Hamlin, nicknamed 'The Hammer'. "It would be pretty disappointing if I wasn't but I'm sure whatever Lammy does, it will be the best for the team.

“It would be nice just to show to both leagues - if I was to choose to go back home or stay here - that I can step up in that game and I could handle myself.

"There's a bit of pressure on me but I like that. It's going to be a big game for me just to prove I could play in that league." Hamlin made 18 appearances in his debut season in Super League, including 15 in a row up to the play-offs, but was dropped for both the semi-final and Grand Final, for which he was Wigan's 18th man.

"I was happy with my first season in Super League," he said. "I was a bit unfortunate I think not to play in the Grand Final but I used that as motivation.

“If I ever got the chance again, I wouldn't want to be 18th man. It was a good feeling to win but it's different when you're not playing."

Lam says he has been impressed by Hamlin' performances against St Helens and Leeds. "Gabe has been one of our highlights for us coming off the bench," Lam said.

Lam is still sweating over the fitness of centre Dan Sarginson, who rolled an ankle in the win over Leeds, while a foot injury to the Roosters' first-choice stand-off Luke Keary could pave the way for the coach's son, Lachlan Lam, to make his debut.

Trent Robinson's squad arrived in Paris on Monday to set up a training camp and will play a training match against St Helens behind closed doors at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Friday.

Wigan Warriors report two stands nearly sold-out for World Club Challenge The game was arranged last October after Saints coach Justin Holbrook met up with Robinson at leaders conference in London.

Meanwhile Wigan, say two stands are close to being sold out as they aim to at least top the 21,011 crowd for the visit of Cronulla in the 2017 World Club Challenge at the DW Stadium.

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9590409
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
User avatar
Mike
Site Admin
Posts: 7403
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:54 pm
Contact:

Re: Wigan Warriors' Gabe Hamlin using his Grand Final snub as motivation for the World Club Challenge

Post by Mike »

Hopefully he'll be better than he was against Leeds then . It wasn't his best game.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
benjamaphone
Posts: 124
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 3:07 pm

Re: Wigan Warriors' Gabe Hamlin using his Grand Final snub as motivation for the World Club Challenge

Post by benjamaphone »

I don't know if this was the cause or the result of any drop in performance but did anyone else notice he was getting extra grief every time he was tackled and trying to play the ball in the Leeds game? Either that or he was letting any attempts at winding him up get to him as he always looked proper peed off at every ptb...
fozzieskem
Posts: 6494
Joined: Sat May 14, 2016 10:54 am

Re: Wigan Warriors' Gabe Hamlin using his Grand Final snub as motivation for the World Club Challenge

Post by fozzieskem »

I wonder if he’s got a touch of “second season syndrome”?he was as Mike said poor against Leeds,maybe now he’s been here awhile players know how to play him and get him wound up?

I don’t know what it is but he needs to get over it and get back to his steady form of last season
Post Reply