Wigan Warriors' Junior Nsemba opens up on emotional family moment
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2024 10:06 am
Super League young gun Junior Nsemba details finding out how he'd been selected for England - and talks about "flicking the switch" in his towering displays
WIGAN’S Junior Nsemba insists he’s the class clown until he “flicks the switch” - and now he’s out to cut it with England.
The freakishly-talented second-row has been one of the hits of the Betfred Super League season. With a raw power and confidence that belies his 20 years, it was no surprise that he earned a first call-up to the national squad on Friday. Later that day he delivered another try-scoring man-of-the-match performance as champions Wigan ousted Hull KR from top spot in a thrilling clash
Now Nsemba, whose parents hail from Cameroon, is being backed to tear into Samoa at the end of the season. He admitted his mum was left almost speechless at news he’d been selected in the 31-man squad. Nsemba explained: “I spoke to Shaun Wane but my mum sent me the Instagram reel and hearing it from her, saying she’s proud, I was happy.
“On the phone she didn’t know what to say. She was just making noises! It was nice to hear. Whatever she said! She was excited and giving all the energy. She told me to keep my head down whereas my dad’s very monotone. He’s a calm guy.”
Nsemba has a relaxed demeanour off the pitch, too, in direct contrast to the menacing, thunderous displays the hard-hitting forward has been serving up. Standing at six foot four inches, he said: “I’m calm around here but normally I’m the clown. When you see me with my boys, you’ll see me dancing and jumping around and everything.
“But on the pitch I’ve just got to flick the switch. It’s our job isn’t it? We’ve got to put a performance on and not only entertain the crowd but do what Matty [Peet] says.”
No-nonsense Nsemba, who could help Wigan clinch the League Leaders’ Shield against Leeds on Friday, has made a habit of blasting through defences with his eye-catching carries. Hull KR’s Peta Hiku and Tyrone May thought they had him wrapped up at one point at the weekend only to be left trailing in his wake. Yet Nsemba was still a teenager just a few weeks ago.
Asked what it’s like possessing such power so young, he said: “I don’t know. I went through them and didn’t know what to do. I was looking for someone to pass to… With the strength, it’s from Bubble [Chris Barron]. He’s a very good strength and conditioning coach and they are the ones getting all the lads right. I think they’re getting me right, too.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... d-33631330
WIGAN’S Junior Nsemba insists he’s the class clown until he “flicks the switch” - and now he’s out to cut it with England.
The freakishly-talented second-row has been one of the hits of the Betfred Super League season. With a raw power and confidence that belies his 20 years, it was no surprise that he earned a first call-up to the national squad on Friday. Later that day he delivered another try-scoring man-of-the-match performance as champions Wigan ousted Hull KR from top spot in a thrilling clash
Now Nsemba, whose parents hail from Cameroon, is being backed to tear into Samoa at the end of the season. He admitted his mum was left almost speechless at news he’d been selected in the 31-man squad. Nsemba explained: “I spoke to Shaun Wane but my mum sent me the Instagram reel and hearing it from her, saying she’s proud, I was happy.
“On the phone she didn’t know what to say. She was just making noises! It was nice to hear. Whatever she said! She was excited and giving all the energy. She told me to keep my head down whereas my dad’s very monotone. He’s a calm guy.”
Nsemba has a relaxed demeanour off the pitch, too, in direct contrast to the menacing, thunderous displays the hard-hitting forward has been serving up. Standing at six foot four inches, he said: “I’m calm around here but normally I’m the clown. When you see me with my boys, you’ll see me dancing and jumping around and everything.
“But on the pitch I’ve just got to flick the switch. It’s our job isn’t it? We’ve got to put a performance on and not only entertain the crowd but do what Matty [Peet] says.”
No-nonsense Nsemba, who could help Wigan clinch the League Leaders’ Shield against Leeds on Friday, has made a habit of blasting through defences with his eye-catching carries. Hull KR’s Peta Hiku and Tyrone May thought they had him wrapped up at one point at the weekend only to be left trailing in his wake. Yet Nsemba was still a teenager just a few weeks ago.
Asked what it’s like possessing such power so young, he said: “I don’t know. I went through them and didn’t know what to do. I was looking for someone to pass to… With the strength, it’s from Bubble [Chris Barron]. He’s a very good strength and conditioning coach and they are the ones getting all the lads right. I think they’re getting me right, too.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... d-33631330
