O’loughlin’s fit, but place v Hull in doubt
WIGAN captain Sean O’loughlin is fit for Thursday’s Super League play-off semi-final against Hull but is not guaranteed a place in the team, according to coach Adrian Lam.
O’loughlin, who has made only six appearances this year, announced last Friday his intention to hang up his boots at the end of the season and is hoping to bow out on a high with a fifth Grand Final ring.
“He was fit last week,” Lam revealed at his weekly press conference. “We made a decision late to leave him out. He’s been training with us for the last three weeks, he’s been good to go since then.
“We’ll make the decision on Thursday, probably the morning of the game.
“The squad has been going well and it’s difficult to get into that 17 at the moment. That’s the way we wanted it to be and Lockers understands that. We’ll weigh all that up and make a decision.”
Lam, who is still assistant to Australia head coach Mal Meninga, says O’loughlin’s coaching role will be finalised at the end of the season and has also revealed that his captain could have had his pick of the NRL clubs at the height of his career.
“I know for a fact that every NRL coach inquired about trying to get him over to play in their team in Australia,” he said.
Stand-off Jackson Hastings says, whether the 37-year-old O’loughlin plays or not, the team are determined to send him out on a high.
“Since I’ve been supporting rugby league and watching Wigan play, Lockers has been an integral figure of every side that has had major success,” he said.
“Once you stand next to him in the tunnel or run out and see he’s in the opposition, he has that aura about him and to be in the same side, that aura grows even more.
“What he’s achieved in the game is second to none and he’s been great not only for myself but all the young kids coming through.
“He’s one of the lads but, when it’s time to be serious, he’s got that voice that everyone respects. As a club, I think we owe it to him to get to a Grand Final and hopefully send him out a winner.”
While O’loughlin prepares to bow out, fellow veteran Thomas Leuluai has yet to make a decision on his future and Hastings is hoping his half-back partner opts to play on in 2021.
“It’s so much easier having that voice that everyone listens to,” he said. “You don’t have to do as much talking.”