Pearce-Paul: It’s all real now
- Kai Pearce-Paul previews Tuesday’s game against St Helens at the AJ Bell Stadium (K.O. 7:45pm).
- The 19-year-old talks about the possibility of making his first team debut for the Warriors in the derby game.
- Pearce-Paul: “It’s all real now it is on paper. I just can’t wait.”
Kai Pearce-Paul says he is excited at the prospect of making his Wigan Warriors debut in one of the biggest fixtures of the Betfred Super League season.
Adrian Lam’s side take on St Helens in the first derby of 2020 on Tuesday night at the AJ Bell Stadium (K.O. 7:45pm), with four youngsters in the 21-man squad for the first time, including Pearce-Paul.
Preparing for the possibility to make his debut, 6ft 5 Pearce-Paul is looking forward to being part of a first team matchday squad.
He said: “I was over the moon, as it is what I have been working towards since pre-season. It’s all real now it is on paper. I just can’t wait.
“My mum messaged me to say well done, and it is the same with my friends, they’re just proud of me.”
Second-row Pearce-Paul has not played a competitive match since before lockdown and has been recovering from a wrist injury which he picked up in a Wigan Reserves game.
“Training is one thing, but games are completely different. It’s been seven months because I had rehab and then lockdown, so coming back I was just getting fit again.”
With six of the 21-man squad not featuring for the Warriors before, there is a guarantee that at least two youngsters will make their debuts for the Club on Tuesday night.
Named alongside Pearce-Paul is Sam Halsall, James McDonnell, Harry Rushton, Umyla Hanley and Ben Kilner.
And the 19-year-old has nothing but praise for the Warriors’ youth system and is pleased to have become part of it since joining from London Broncos in the off-season.
“I, 100 percent back the system, you have to trust the process. For years they have been bringing through quality players and it goes to show you that you can come through the barrier and play week-in-week-out. Under Wigan’s arms, I back all of us to break through and make an impact.”
Pearce-Paul admits he couldn’t be in a better position than he is now, with two great players ahead of him to learn from.
“I couldn’t ask for a better surrounding, I have two absolute quality players (Liam Farrell and Willie Isa), who I look up to a lot when I watch them play, so it’s good to have that advice. When you’re seeing players it just becomes more and more natural to you.
“Even in training I will speak to them and get tips and mirror what they do, because they’re the best in the competition and I’m trying to get better. It’s great to be around them and I will use them as motivation to improve, even when your training against them it’s good because you’re facing the best.”
Despite, initially, finding it difficult moving away from his home in Bromley in south-east London for the first time, Pearce-Paul has adapted to life up north.
“It’s always hard going away from your family and getting used to not seeing them, but the boys and the coaches have made me feel welcome and got me involved inside and outside of training, so that made everything much easier.
“I feel like I’ve settled in quite well and it’s now the norm for me, I call Wigan home instead of London.”
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