BULLDOG SPIRIT
Wigan’s captain hopes his natural aggression can guide them to glory tonight
There must be something in the water!’ says Sean O’Loughlin with a smile.
he is responding to the obvious question. how does one extended family produce so much talent?
O’Loughlin captains Wigan and england and will lead out his club side against Warrington Wolves at Old Trafford tonight in the Super League Grand Final.
his father, Keiron, also played for the cherry-and-whites, as did his uncle. his brother-in-law is former england union and current Ireland coach Andy Farrell — which makes Farrell’s son, england fly- half Owen, O’Loughlin’s nephew.
Loose forward O’Loughlin, 35, believes it comes down more to geography than genes. ‘Wigan produces athletes across all sports,’ he explains with more than a tinge of hometown pride.
‘Not just rugby, we enjoy all sport. Our schools have teachers who put in the extra hours.’
Last summer, O’Loughlin was at Owen’s wedding. ‘It was at his wife’s parents’ house in harpenden,’ he recalls. ‘A marquee in their lovely garden — then a coachload of Wiganers turn up.’
O’Loughlin ( right) mixed with Farrell’s Saracens team- mates but there was not much cross- code jousting. ‘I was outnumbered!’ he says. ‘ I couldn’t say anything — there was only me from league.’
Old animosities are fading. O’Loughlin’s son George, 12, the eldest of three, plays both sports. ‘Lots of kids in Wigan do now, with one code being summer and the other winter,’ he says. ‘ It’s a good thing.’
Moving on is something of a theme. Today’s final will be the last for Wigan coach Shaun Wane, a man O’Loughlin regards as ‘a boss at the club and a friend away from it’. Wane is taking a part-time role with the Scottish RFU after more than 30 years in rugby league. his decision took many by surprise, including his captain. ‘When he called to tell me he was going it was like a kick in the guts.’ says O’Loughlin. has he thought of a leaving gift? ‘I have. he’s going to union so I think we’ll get him a tweed jacket.’ There has also been speculation over O’Loughlin’s own future. relaxing at home, he tickles the ear of his French bulldog, Buddy, and explains that although his contract expires at the end of the season, he is set to play for another year.
‘I’m just sorting it now,’ he says, adding that he plans to stay in the game once he quits playing.
‘A few contracts ago I agreed to stay on the coaching side for two years. It is something I want to be involved in. I do a couple of nights a week with the academy now.
‘I’ll play a year at a time. If I feel good and the club want me to go around again next year, I’ll do it.’
O’Loughlin admits aggression is a big part of the game. ‘It’s not violence, it’s not about hurting people,’ he says. ‘It’s about imposing dominance and you have to be aggressive to do that.’
It has been an eventful year for Wigan and O’Loughlin. In June, an ugly video of brothers Joel and Sam Tomkins seemingly worse for wear and being abusive to a local barmaid went viral.
It led to Joel’s departure and a fine for Sam. ‘Both were gutted,’ says O’Loughlin. ‘They are top blokes. Joel moved on and bounced back at hull Kr. Sam’s killing it for us.’
Then last month the club were rocked by the sudden death of Adam Sarginson, brother of Wigan centre, Dan. ‘As a group you try and get around him,’ says O’Loughlin. ‘ he played the following weekend — his way of trying to get back to normality. ’
It is to be hoped an Old Trafford final in front of 65,000 can provide some distraction. Win or lose, Wigan will head home for a reception with their families. Then comes the annual end-of-season day out — Mad Monday.
‘It ends up with a lot of drunk, half- dressed blokes,’ jokes O’Loughlin before his thoughts turn again to Wane.
‘ It’s fancy dress,’ laughs O’Loughlin. ‘One year the players paired up and each chose the other’s costume. Waney got Micky McIlorum, who’d got him some black, leather bondage gear. Waney wouldn’t wear it — he said it wouldn’t fit.’