Douglas and Eckersley: Classmates to teammates
Jacob Douglas and Zach Eckersley sat down to share memories of their journey from classmates and teammates.
A special moment arose in the Warriors’ Round 23 victory over Hull FC at The Brick Community Stadium. Shortly after Douglas marked his home debut with his first senior try, a similar right-edge attack resulted in Eckersley slicing through to score the second later added to by Junior Nsemba and Jack Farrimond. Four tries, four Scholarship graduates.
Douglas and Eckersley first showed signs of their ‘chemistry’ and ‘blistering pace’ for Oldham-based junior Club Waterhead ARLFC, which eventually led to Matt Peet scouting the duo as teenagers. However, before a left-edge flourished in rugby league, a sporting talent was first showcased at 3D Dynamos Football Club where the two lined up together on opposite wings.
Whilst Douglas grew up playing football and cricket throughout his primary school years, Eckersley balanced football alongside rugby league, swimming and sprinting – although one took priority.
“Rugby league is certainly the family sport,” Eckersley said. “My grandads, uncles and dad – former Oldham and Warrington winger, Chris – all played so I eventually started when I was four. You get to the age though where you have to pick one and for me it was always going to be rugby league.”
“I played football with most of the Waterhead lads, but it got to the point where they began taking rugby more seriously,” Douglas explained when asked to describe his route into rugby league. “At the time the team struggled for numbers so anyone who brought a new player received a fiver. I remember agreeing to go down and everyone tried claiming I was with them – in the end one of my other mates got the money.”
Impressive junior performances led to Douglas and Eckersley signing their first Wigan Warriors contract with the Club’s Scholarship programme in 2019. Sprints home from school, hours sat in traffic and training sessions at Central Park marked the start of a new beginning.
“It was special putting a Wigan shirt on for the first time,” recalled Eckersley, who marked his first derby appearance with a try and two goals in a one-point defeat to St Helens alongside Harvie Hill, Tom Forber, Junior Nsemba and Harvey Makin.
Whilst Eckersley increased his appearances, Douglas had to wait until 2021 to make his Wigan debut after a broken collarbone and pandemic denied an appearance at Scholarship level.
“At one point I thought I wasn’t going to make it,” Douglas revealed. “The coaches had yet to see me play and there was only a small amount of training to go off as at the time sessions were on Zoom. With a month to go I was told I’d excelled enough to join the Academy and my first appearance came against Bradford Bulls. I’ll never forget the pride and appreciation I felt after I’d played.”
Douglas and Eckersley experienced a special season in 2024 as the Warriors lifted all four trophies. Eckersley scored crucial tries in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final and against St Helens, whilst Douglas made his Betfred Super League debut before scoring his first try in the competition.
“This season has been special,” Eckersley said. “You don’t realise sometimes there are so many of us within the First Team environment who came through the Scholarship together. It’s full praise to the Club who show faith in us at a young age and our aim is to pay that back.”
Weeks before the Warriors completed the Grand Slam at Old Trafford, Eckersley revisited his – and Douglas’ – former high school, Saddleworth, to gift a signed shirt which is now proudly displayed on the PE ‘Wall of Fame’.
“To have my shirt added to the wall is special – I cannot thank the school enough,” expressed Eckersley. “It’s a new school building but it doesn’t feel like two minutes ago since I shared classes with Dougie. To be invited back was surreal.”
Join Jacob Douglas and Zach Eckersley at The Brick Community Stadium in 2025. Supporters are reminded that the Early Bird deadline is 5pm on Friday 3 January – more information on 2025 Memberships can be found HERE.
