Wigan Warriors star Sam Walters speaks out on unusual Grand Final situation

Towering second-row, 23, got an unexpected call-up for semi-final and scored two tries in 38-0 rout of Leigh Leopards yet fully expects to miss Old Trafford title decider against Hull KR

IF you’ve scored two tries in a Super League semi-final, most people would be excitedly looking forward to Old Trafford.

But things are a little different for Wigan’s Sam Walters. He was a late call-up for Saturday’s 38-0 destruction of Leigh after captain Liam Farrell pulled out with a virus. He made his mark with that double. However, the towering second-row knows he probably won’t play in Saturday’s Grand Final against Hull KR.

Walters conceded: “I’d expect Faz to go back in. He’s a leader and is a legend of the club, but hopefully I have given Matty [Peet] a good headache. To be honest with you, though, it doesn’t matter who plays because we’ve got such a good team mentality.”

Walters, in his first season with Wigan after joining from Leeds, had been 18th man for the previous three games. On getting that late call, he revealed: “It was about half five, six o’clock on Friday night. At 18th man, you always expect the worst or even the best, so I just prepared the same way I would.

“I was just excited; I rang my family, and the team looked after me on that edge, so nothing really changed in how the team ran. Obviously I enjoyed it and sometimes it can be a blessing because you’ve not had the build-up of the week and stuff. You can go in fresh and just excited to play. It was a great performance but no performance is perfect and next week Hull KR are going to come out firing. That physical and mental battle is going to make it a great occasion.”

Walters, 23, had only scored once before for the club and gave a beaming reaction to his first try as Wigan ran riot. He explained: “It was such a massive one with high pressures, so it’s what you dream of as a kid: running out in a derby in front of 20,000 can be really daunting but it can also bring out the best in you. Scoring the tries relieved a bit of pressure and we put in a good 80-minute performance. But I still think we’ve got a few more gears in us as well.”

Defending champions Wigan now bid to win back-to-back Grand Finals for the first time but also become the first club in the summer era to achieve a quadruple in one season. Walters didn’t make his Wigan debut until May after suffering a broken collar bone in pre-season. Rookie Junior Nsemba, instead, made the most of his shot in the second-row and the Dream Team star - tipped to win Super League's Young Player of the Year and earn an England debut against Samoa - was again superb when rattling Leigh.

Does Walters ever think about a Sliding Doors moment thinking it could have been him in the limelight now rather than man of the moment Nsemba? He replied: "Not at all. I’ve got confidence that, if you work hard, you’ll get your rewards in the end. Junior is having an amazing year and has deserved every accolade he’s got.

"That gives me that motivation as well – hopefully we can have a few years together and have a good combination on both edges."

Walters was left out of Wigan’s Challenge Cup final-winning side and missed February’s World Club Challenge success against Penrith with that injury but he insists he will accept whatever Peet decides.

A Grand Final loser with Leeds in 2022, he maintained: “It is what it is. Obviously I want to play and be involved - but if I don’t then I’m still part of the team. It takes a team to win the Grand Final and we’ve got such good depth this year with Jack Farrimond, Dougy, Zach Eckersley and Harvie Hill. They’re all knocking on the door to play each week and it’s good to have that depth in the squad.

"You can’t really sulk because the culture here everyone has to be proud and happy for each other’s success. For example, Brad O’Neill is out injured but I’m sure if you asked him then he would say how he’s delighted with how Tom Forber is playing. Everyone has got that attitude throughout the team, which is why we are where we are right now."