Play-Offs: Now's the time for Nsemba

Remember, remember Junior Nsemba!

Wigan Warriors’ breakout star Junior Nsemba is ready to experience his first Betfred Super League semi-final on Saturday.

It may be a 22nd semi-final in the Super League era for the Wigan club, but it’s another first for the 20-year-old in 2024.

Nsemba shot to fame and has had a phenomenal season in the Cherry and White – a side who currently hold all four major trophies and are looking to conquer a second consecutive Grand Final. 

His honours already include two League Leaders’ Shields and a Challenge Cup, and the powerful back-rower has nine tries in 42 appearances. 

And on a personal level, Nsemba’s efforts have earned him a debut in the Dream Team, a nomination for Young Player of the Year, as well as his very first England call-up for the Samoa Test series this autumn.

Is @junior_nsemba the brightest young prospect in #SuperLeague? ?

Enjoy his best 2024 moments so far for @WiganWarriorsRL ? pic.twitter.com/OvvFNr2c37

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 29, 2024

“It’s a big achievement for myself and my career. I feel like this year has been a breakout year for me – I know I played last year, but I feel like my confidence has grown this year,” Nsemba said.

“The coaches and the players have really pushed me, and I feel like I really owe it to them with me getting to where I am now.”

But a determined Nsemba believes there is more to come, and recently penned a mammoth six-year-deal with the Warriors, highlighting his commitment to his hometown club and the club’s commitment to him.

“I feel like there’s more to come with me – I have to keep listening to the best of the best at Wigan in Matt Peet, Thomas Leuluai and Lockers [Sean O’Loughlin].

“They’ve all achieved loads in their careers, so if I keep listening to them then I know I’m going in the right direction.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s semi-final, when Wigan will face local rivals Leigh Leopards at The Brick Community Stadium, Nsemba knows exactly what’s at stake:

“It’s a very big occasion and we all know at Wigan how big the Grand Final is and how much we want to get there.

“We need to do what we’ve been doing all year and not put too much pressure on ourselves. Doing what we’ve been doing is what’s got us here at the end of the day, so let’s not change.

“As a team, we’ll be focusing on ourselves and fixing up for our semi-final.”

Still one of the youngest players in the competition, Nsemba is at the very start of an incredible career, and is grateful to the experience he has around him in the star-studded Warriors squad:

“For me, it's all about controlling the nerves. We’ve got Liam Farrell who has been there in all the big finals and is such a leader. It’s players like him who can calm other people down if they haven’t been there before – like myself.

“I’ve not played in a Grand Final before – I chatted to Farrell and he told me about his past experiences and that’s really calmed me down and made me ready for our semi.

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking when you see and hear that you’re just 80 minutes away from a Grand Final. I’ve been trying to avoid that if I’m honest and just focus on what’s ahead.

Playing for the Champions Wigan Warriors undoubtedly comes with a heavy weight of expectation, and Nsemba takes nothing for granted, as he admitted that a Grand Final appearance would round off a whirwind of a season:

“If you’re one of the top teams, there’s a lot of pressure. We’ve obviously been successful, but we need to stay high on those standards and continue to do that.

“To win the semi and get to that Grand Final would mean everything; it would complete my year. We’ve had a really good year and me personally - I feel like I’ve done alright.

“If I could walk out at the Grand Final, it would mean a lot to my family, and I give everything to God!”

Watch Wigan Warriors v Leigh Leopards' Betfred Super League Play-Off Semi-Final on Saturday 5 October, live on BBC Two and Sky Sports (K.O. 5:30pm).

Tickets are available for this fixture here!