Seven Wigan Warriors players heading off contract including two Super League legends

[Charriots Offiah]

Wigan Warriors head into the 2025 season as quadruple winners with the club’s incredible squad management key to that success with most of the team’s stars on long-term contracts. Despite that, seven will see their deals expire at the end of the 2025 season.

As referenced, Wigan have not been afraid to commit to some of their stars with lengthy contracts going to both coaches and players alike. Earlier this year, Junior Nsemba would sign a six-year deal tying him to the club until the end of the 2030 season.

Man of Steel Bevan French is locked in until at least the end of 2028 whilst head coach Matt Peet and assistants Sean O’Loughlin and Thomas Leuluai are also locked in until the end of 2030.

With so many players locked in long-term, there are still some who have less than a year on their contract with six believed to fall into that category and another with an option year. We’ve assessed each of those seven players.

The Wigan Warriors players with 2025 expiring contracts

Of the seven names on the list, Sam Eseh Jr is the only one confirmed to have an option in his contract meaning that Wigan Warriors could extend him beyond 2025 should they wish.

Eseh Jr spent time on loan at each of Castleford Tigers, Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos in 2024 and is yet to feature for Wigan Warriors, such is the depth of their riches in the pack.

Another of the names whose status is not certain is Tom Forber but per Wigan Today, the youngster is ‘at least’ contracted until the end of the 2025 season. Jacob Douglas is another young player who is tied down for 2025 with the club having triggered an option in his recent contract.

The other four players on this list are far more prominent figures with two Super League legends featuring in Liam Farrell and Willie Isa. The pair of Wigan legends will turn 35 and 36 respectively in 2024 and have almost 600 Warriors appearances between them.

Isa missed almost all of the 2024 season after a horror injury in the Challenge Cup back in April and recently signed a deal for 2025 whilst Farrell almost missed the Grand Final after being a late call following a virus. Both men are synonymous with the club and any contract news will be eagerly awaited by the Ancient and Loyal fans.

Liam Byrne and Adam Keighran are the other two men who see their deal expire at the end of 2025 with 2024 signing Keighran proving to be one of the best in Super League.

His kicking game from the tee was crucial in 2024 and took a pressuring job off Harry Smith which elicited the best of the England half. As for Liam Byrne, he is another fighting for time on the field given how packed Wigan’s pack is. If he becomes a free agent then he will be very desirable for many Super League clubs.

Wigan Warriors players off contract at the end of the 2025 season

Adam Keighran
Liam Byrne
Willie Isa
Liam Farrell
Sam Eseh Jr (Option)
Tom Forber
Jacob Douglas

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/seven-wi ... nds-98817/

I can see Faz maybe going into a coaching role or maybe getting one more season if he goes alright in 2025, he’s got good experience.
I’d keep the younger lads to see how they mature. And I’d be happy for Isa and Byrne to leave, Keighrsn maybe as well because beside his kicking I don’t think you really notice him really.

I seem to remember Faz saying that he will be following a career in pysiotherapy when he retires, hopefully that will be at the club. He still has more rugby in him yet though.

[Charriots Offiah]

I think the Club will be looking to retain all those players in some capacity.

[the pieman]

Adam improved throughout the season and his goal kicking was a real bonus. Don't forget he filled in well at standoff too. I think we'll offer him another contract unless Eckersley makes even more progress than he did this season. Eckersley will provide cover at centre, fullback and wing next season but won't replace Adam at centre if Adam maintains his end of season form. The squad looks good for 2025 but will need some careful juggling to maintain progress into 2026. Things to consider:

1) Forber did so well at the end of the season but will he be happy being third choice when Brad is back?

2) How much and how well will Isa have to play if he wants to play on into his testimonial season at Wigan?

3) For how long will Faz want to play if he slips down to third choice?

4) For how long will Eckersley be happy to play second fiddle?

5) How long can we keep Farrimond happy as a back up?

Things will be much clearer in the second half of next season and the club seem to be making the correct decisions more often than not.

i think the answers to 4 & 5 have already been dealt with. Both lads have just signed long term contracts, so must have had the situation explained to them ie you'll get game time next year with a view to becoming 1st choice in 26 or 27? You would expect they are happy to have signed long term deals, so know they arent 1st choice immediately

point 2 - for me Isa is now a squad player, and will only get game time next season if Matty Peet wants to rotate the squad or we have injuries. Faz and Junior to start, and Walters needs to be pushing Faz to get his starting jersey either through the course of next season, but most definitely for the 26 season

point 3 and Faz, strange one as he just keeps going and going, and still runs those fantastic lines and defensively sound. In an ideal world he'd finish with another GF medal next season, and then decide whether to carry on or not, but my emphasis is on retiring so we can promote Walters (if he earns it)

point 1 will be the most interesting one as O'Neill i think forced the clubs hand by playing so well at the end of the 23 season, and thus taking the number 9 shirt, which i think was destined for Leeming when he was signed. Leeming still got 3 left on his contract, and offers something different to O'Neill, and i personally dont think some of the tries we scored last year with Leeming taking the ball close to the line and delicate kick would have been scored with O'Neill at 9. Unfortunately this could leave Forber with very little game time, unless one of the others is injured. Now this next bit i am going to contradict myself a little as i'm not one for moving players into other positions for the sake of it, but could O'Neill poss be groomed to be our next 13 once Ellis finishes with us, as he would give us defensive stability and ability to play the ball a little at 13

[moto748]

I think that's the best hope for keeping Forber, and I'd hate so see him go.