Latest news with #ChristianWade
BBC News
an hour ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hull FC stun Wigan to boost play-off hopes
Betfred Super LeagueWigan (0) 12Tries: Wade, Havard Goals: Smith 2Hull FC (20) 32Tries: Cartwright 2, Sezer, Rapana, Ashworth Goals: Charles 6 Hull FC shook up the Super League play-off picture with a superb 32-12 win over reigning champions Wigan Warriors at the Brick Community Black and Whites left Matt Peet's side stunned with a utterly dominant first-half display which saw them go in 20 unanswered points to the they returned after the break to show it had been no fluke adding two more tries to complete a 32-12 victory that lifted them to sixth in the all that second-placed Wigan were off their usual high standards, Hull FC produced their best performance of the season, effecting a tactical masterclass to target Wigan's vulnerability under the high Christian Wade produced a superb solo effort to open Wigan's account in the second half, but on three occasions either side of the break his handling mistakes catching high kicks led to Hull for Wigan was their fifth reverse of the season and handed Hull KR the chance to go four points clear at the top should they beat Catalans later on to follow. Wigan: Field, Marshall, Eckersley, Wardle, Wade, Keighran, Smith, Havard, O'Neill, Dupree, Nsemba, Farrell, EllisInterchanges: Mago, Byrne, Leeming, HillHull FC: Hardaker, Barron, Rapana, Litten, Martin, Charles, Sezer, Ese'ese, Cust, Knight, Cartwright, Fash, AydinInterchanges: Ashworth, Briscoe, Laidlaw, HutchinsonReferee: Liam Moore.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Christian Wade's attitude sees him make mark in THIRD professional sport
Former England and British Lions RU ace scored on senior RL debut, just like he did in American Football WADE IN Christian Wade's attitude sees him make mark in THIRD professional sport Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHRISTIAN Wade is proving mind over matter and seizing his chance makes sure he comes good as he makes his mark in a THIRD professional sport. The former England and British Lions RU star scored a try on his senior rugby league debut as Wigan saw off Huddersfield. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Christian Wade has revealed how his attitude to taking chances is seeing him make his way in a third professional sport Credit: Just like when he made NFL giants Buffalo Bills' squad and scored a 65-yard touchdown with his first touch. And at the heart of it all is what goes on in his head, just as it did when he was a kid. Wade said: 'Don't worry about mistakes or what might go wrong. Just think about what can go right. 'There's no point because things are going to go wrong. Things going wrong is inevitable. 'I hadn't played rugby league before, I've only been here four weeks, I've played the whole season with Gloucester. 'There were all these excuses you can have on it, but I was like, 'No, from the day I come here, I need to train like I'm playing, so when my opportunity comes, I'm ready to go. 'On Wednesday it was like, 'Right Wadey, you're playing.' 'In the NFL, it's very rare you get opportunities. I got one in the fourth quarter and on my first touch, I scored. In rugby, it's the same. 'There are loads when I had to seize the moment. That's propelled me on to the next opportunity. 'There are loads I didn't get, but I pride myself on any I've had in my career, I've made the most of them. 'I haven't always had the same opportunities everyone else has, but whatever I've had, I've always tried to do something with a bang. 'It's, 'When that opportunity arises, what are you going to do with it?' 'When I was younger, I might get five minutes off the bench or play a whole game, but there was one opportunity where I got the ball. 3 Wade scored a try on his senior debut against Huddersfield Credit: 'If it's the one time, I'm scoring. I'm determined to make something of this opportunity, of this possession. That's what it's always been, trying to make something happen. 'I'd been waiting for one at Wigan, so it was like, 'OK, this is my opportunity to play. Try and make the most of it.'' Wade, 34, had a shaky start but raced over in the second half of a 'crazy' experience. Even in just 80 minutes, his attitude to life shone through as he added ahead of today's visit of Hull FC: 'It was crazy. 'From the very start to the end, it was a whole different experience. The speed of the game. It's an aerobic game, we're constantly moving. There are no real rest periods. 'And a lot of contacts for me. Things like first and second carries, but that's my job. If that's my job, then I have to make sure I'm in there. 3 Wade believes Junior Nsemba would be a superstar, whatever the code or competition Credit: 'Huddersfield did put a couple of high kicks up at me and I dropped a couple easy ones, which I wasn't happy about. 'That's the game, though. I could do better but you've got to try and ride it out.' Wade may be from down south and his accent definitely is not from Wigan but he has quickly integrated himself into the Warriors' squad. And one player stands out more than most, Junior Nsemba. 'He was probably the first player I met at the Good Friday game with St Helens,' Wade recalled. 'But I knew was an up-and-coming superstar. 'From the beginning, I was like, 'This guy's an absolute beast.' He's really big, but he's fast. He's got footwork. He's powerful, he's strong. 'He is something to fear, especially at his age now. What's he going to be like in five years? 100 per cent, he'd be a superstar in either code or any competition.'
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Christian Wade's attitude sees him make mark in THIRD professional sport
CHRISTIAN Wade is proving mind over matter and seizing his chance makes sure he comes good as he makes his mark in a THIRD professional sport. The former England and British Lions RU star scored a try on his senior rugby league debut as Wigan saw off Huddersfield. 3 Just like when he made NFL giants Buffalo Bills' squad and scored a 65-yard touchdown with his first touch. And at the heart of it all is what goes on in his head, just as it did when he was a kid. Wade said: 'Don't worry about mistakes or what might go wrong. Just think about what can go right. 'There's no point because things are going to go wrong. Things going wrong is inevitable. 'I hadn't played rugby league before, I've only been here four weeks, I've played the whole season with Gloucester. 'There were all these excuses you can have on it, but I was like, 'No, from the day I come here, I need to train like I'm playing, so when my opportunity comes, I'm ready to go. 'On Wednesday it was like, 'Right Wadey, you're playing.' 'In the NFL, it's very rare you get opportunities. I got one in the fourth quarter and on my first touch, I scored. In rugby, it's the same. 'There are loads when I had to seize the moment. That's propelled me on to the next opportunity. 'There are loads I didn't get, but I pride myself on any I've had in my career, I've made the most of them. 'I haven't always had the same opportunities everyone else has, but whatever I've had, I've always tried to do something with a bang. 'It's, 'When that opportunity arises, what are you going to do with it?' 'When I was younger, I might get five minutes off the bench or play a whole game, but there was one opportunity where I got the ball. 3 'If it's the one time, I'm scoring. I'm determined to make something of this opportunity, of this possession. That's what it's always been, trying to make something happen. 'I'd been waiting for one at Wigan, so it was like, 'OK, this is my opportunity to play. Try and make the most of it.'' Wade, 34, had a shaky start but raced over in the second half of a 'crazy' experience. Even in just 80 minutes, his attitude to life shone through as he added ahead of today's visit of Hull FC: 'It was crazy. 'From the very start to the end, it was a whole different experience. The speed of the game. It's an aerobic game, we're constantly moving. There are no real rest periods. 'And a lot of contacts for me. Things like first and second carries, but that's my job. If that's my job, then I have to make sure I'm in there. 3 'Huddersfield did put a couple of high kicks up at me and I dropped a couple easy ones, which I wasn't happy about. 'That's the game, though. I could do better but you've got to try and ride it out.' Wade may be from down south and his accent definitely is not from Wigan but he has quickly integrated himself into the Warriors' squad. And one player stands out more than most, Junior Nsemba. 'He was probably the first player I met at the Good Friday game with St Helens,' Wade recalled. 'But I knew was an up-and-coming superstar. 'From the beginning, I was like, 'This guy's an absolute beast.' He's really big, but he's fast. He's got footwork. He's powerful, he's strong. 'He is something to fear, especially at his age now. What's he going to be like in five years? 100 per cent, he'd be a superstar in either code or any competition.'
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wigan come from behind to thrash lowly Huddersfield
Betfred Super LeagueWigan (0) 30Tries: Wade, Wardle 2, Dupree, Nsemba Goals: Keighran 5Huddersfield (10) 10Tries: Lolohea, Gagai Goals: Flanagan Wigan Warriors scored 30 unanswered points as they came from 10-0 down at half-time to beat Huddersfield Giants at The Brick Community Lolohea and Jason Gagai gave the Giants hope of a first away win at Wigan for six years with first-half Wigan roared back after the break, touching down five times through Christian Wade, Jake Wardle's double, Tyler Dupree and Junior result means they remain second in Super League, with the Giants 11th despite a brave to follow. Wigan: Field, Douglas, Eckersley, Wardle, Wade, Keighran, Smith, Harvard, O'Neill, Dupree, Nsemba, Farrell, EllisInterchanges: Mago, Byrne, Leeming, Meekin, ForberHuddersfield: Flanagan, Swift, Halsall, Milne, Gagai, Lolohea, Frawley, English, Woolford, Powell, Rushton, Greenwood, CudjoeInterchanges: Golden, Hewitt, King, Rush, BibbyReferee: Chris Kendall.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rugby's great wanderer Christian Wade: ‘You don't say no to Wigan'
For a man who has done it all in rugby union and experienced the bright lights of the NFL, the glint in Christian Wade's eye when asked what drew him to a new challenge with Wigan suggests this was an opportunity he couldn't miss. It has been some fortnight for one of the Premiership's all-time greats. His farewell appearance for Gloucester – and perhaps in rugby union altogether – ended with victory against Northampton and two tries. The second of those was a sensational long-range finish in the dying embers of that game which would have caught the eye of any Wigan supporters keenly checking out what their new signing is capable of. Advertisement Related: Christian Wade: 'I see myself in Louis Rees-Zammit, he's facing the same challenges' The following day, he was in a car heading north to begin his new career as a rugby league player. Introductions done on Monday, by Wednesday he was thrust into his first Wigan training session and asked by his head coach, Matt Peet, if he fancied testing himself in a reserve match the following evening despite only two hours on the field learning a new sport. His response? Exactly what you would expect from a player who has made it his business to take risks. 'Obviously,' he said, smiling. 'If not now, when will it be? Let's do it.' So five days removed from a full house at Kingsholm, Wade was now playing in front of a couple of hundred people – which included Peet – in the slightly less glamorous surroundings of Castleford, completing around an hour. A Super League debut may be a while away yet, with Wade pencilled in for a second reserves outing next weekend before Wigan reassess the situation. The 34-year-old is understanding of the fact it will take time to be deemed ready, with few players successfully making the transition from union to league with great success in recent years. Advertisement 'There's been a lot of league people gone into union and become good defence coaches which helps,' he says. 'But the attack side of it … playing in that game last week I was like, which way are we attacking? What are we doing? The shape of the attacks are so different and there are a lot less stoppages – only when you score. But it's good fun. I'm enjoying it.' The transition had been happening even before that hastily arranged debut last week, with Wade revealing he has been watching clips of Wigan for weeks to prepare himself as best as possible. But he admits nothing will steel him for his new challenge better than playing games and being thrust into the thick of it. 'That was a humbling experience at Castleford,' he says. 'But it was exciting to just get out there and play because the season is well under way in league. So it was good to get that baptism of fire and get it out of the way. I'll only be better for that and the next games I play.' League has been on Wade's radar previously. Before attempting to launch an NFL life in 2019 he was sounded out by Toronto Wolfpack, a move that failed to materialise. But having crossed paths with so many Wigan greats throughout his career, and despite holding talks about a new deal with Gloucester, when the Warriors came calling, there was only ever going to be one answer. Advertisement 'They're probably one of the biggest brands in either code of rugby, right?' he says. 'It's Wigan. You don't say no to Wigan. They're the first league team everyone knows. Jason Robinson was my idol. I worked with Shaun Edwards. Then throw guys like Martin Offiah in too. Gloucester were talking about next season but when I spoke to Wigan, their vision just aligned with mine.' But what really appears to excite Wade is that even now, as retirement comes a little closer, he has the chance to start afresh and make an impact in a fresh environment, perhaps underlining why he has been so keen to try new things before. Indeed, Wigan insiders are said to already be impressed with Wade's attitude. 'Making a move like this means you can't be complacent because you have to come in and try and earn the respect of a whole new group of people,' Wade says. 'I'm trying to learn this game and I don't want to be the guy who lets the team down, and I've got to set the standard. 'It's exciting. It's not that I was bored of what happened before, I'll always give 110%. But I love new challenges and I am better for the experiences I've had before, too. It all sets me up for this great opportunity.' Advertisement Clearly, given Wade's rollercoaster career, the door can never fully be shut on a return to union. But if this is the end, does he leave with any regrets? 'Absolutely not. It's not been straightforward; people will always see the successes but they don't know what happens behind closed doors. 'I pride myself on my career. I've busted doors open to make sure I make the most of every opportunity. That will be no different here. The story is still being written too.' Wade's short-term deal only lasts until the end of the Super League season in October. What happens beyond that? 'Let's just see how it goes,' he insists. 'It's open-ended. I haven't planned to do six months here then go back to union. Similarly, I haven't thought I'll do this, sign an extension or go to another Super League team. Let's just enjoy the ride.'
