Hirst: Detail in everything

• George Hirst spoke on his first few months as a Warrior and transitioning to the top level of rugby league.
• Hirst: “Everything’s nailed down, any questions you have are always answered, anything you need from anyone – they’re always there.”
• Watch more pre-season interviews on Wigan TV HERE.

George Hirst has reflected on his first months as a warrior as he continues his first pre-season with the club.

Having featured in Oldham’s promotion winning campaign to the Championship in 2024, Hirst signed from Oldham RLFC on a two year deal in October. Reflecting on his first months with the Cherry and Whites, Hirst said: “It’s been good so far. It’s been tough, but I’m definitely enjoying it.”

The second-rower, along with his new teammates, sat down for an analysis session by the Warriors’ coaching staff on Tuesday morning which was open for the media to observe, as Matt Peet, Thomas Leuluai and Sean O’Loughlin dissected training footage.

“As you saw, there’s detail in everything you do”, said Hirst. “Everything’s nailed down, any questions you have are always answered, anything you need from anyone – they’re always there.

“I’ve learnt a lot so far from Matt, Sean and Thomas and there’s a lot still to learn, but it’s all been good.”

Hirst – who made the move to Oldham in 2023 having played for his local amateur clubs Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury Celtic and Almondbury Spartans prior – has been received well by the team and staff alike.

“The lads have welcomed me really well and I’m getting along with all of them”, he said. “With the coaches too, any questions I have I can ask them, they always tip me up on stuff and they’ve been really helpful.”

The Warriors have become accustomed to helping out in the local community over recent years, which is an element to joining the club that Hirst has found rewarding: “My first week or two here I was with some of the younger lads that have come up from the Academy and we did some stuff over at The Brick then – building toys for kids over Christmas, sorting Christmas boxes out, transporting food around and a few other bits.

“We’ve been to local hospices and kids hospitals giving out Christmas presents. I’ve really enjoyed that part of things.”

On the ‘Warriors Together’ programme which sees the players head out into the Community, Hirst added: “I think it keeps players grounded as well. It shows that, look – you might play for a club like Wigan, but you’re not above anyone else. Everyone’s the same, you treat everyone the same as it should be.”

A select Warriors team is set to head to Oldham later this month, as Peet’s side’s first outing of pre-season.

On the prospect of facing his former club and looking to build on his first pre-season as a Warrior, he said: “Obviously I don’t know if I’ll be playing yet. It’s down to me to train well and hopefully get picked.

“I just want to expand on last year and get the core stuff right – getting up well, not missing tackles, carrying hard – doing that all better this year.”

By Harvey Orgill.