Wigan captain Sean O’Loughlin insists his side won’t be treating Friday’s Super League opener against Huddersfield as a warm-up game for their World Club Challenge.
The Giants travel to Wigan a week before the regular season officially starts due to the Warriors’ involvement in the World Club Challenge.
Wigan jet off Down Under after the Super League clash with the Giants, and will face New Zealand Warriors in a friendly before meeting Australian NRL champions Sydney Roosters in the World Club Challenge on February 22.
But despite their involvement in the world clash, which pits the champions of Super League and the NRL against each other, O’Loughlin says there is no chance his side will be treating their clash with the Giants as a warm-up match.
“The World Club Challenge has been a bit of a focus for us, but obviously we know we’ve got Huddersfield on Friday night and it’s massively important for us to start Super League off well, but it’s also important to get a good win going into the World Club Challenge,” said O’Loughlin, who captained Wigan to a Challenge Cup and Super League Grand Final double in 2013.
“It doesn’t feel like a warm-up game, but it’s a different feel to a normal first game because we know we’ve got a final in two weeks.
“We’re not looking past the Huddersfield game, but we know as soon as that game is done we’re on a plane to Australia.
“I wouldn’t say it feels like a friendly because we know how tough it is going to be, but it is a kind of stepping stone for the World Club Challenge as well.”
Friday’s match will provide Wigan with one of the sternest tests possible, given the nature of the clashes between the two sides last year.
The Giants beat Wigan 22-10 in round three of Super League last year, before completing a double with a 30-12 away win which effectively sealed the League Leaders’ Shield.
O’Loughlin admits to being impressed by Paul Anderson’s men last year, and expects them to be even stronger this time around.
“They were obviously the form side last year up until the play-offs and the few times we played them last year we had some tough physical battles,” he added. “I’m sure they’ll be wanting to start their season off with a win as much as we will.
“The last few years they’ve gradually improved, and they maintained it for the whole of the season last year.
“I don’t think there is any worry of them dropping off this year, and they’ll probably learn from the play-off games they had last season.
“I see them improving this year and maybe going one step further.”
O’Loughlin, like his coach Shaun Wane, believes the challenge of facing Huddersfield will stand them in good stead for their exploits Down Under.
“To get a tough game like we’re expecting on Friday is great preparation before we get on that plane to Australia,” he continued.
“You probably want a nice easy game to start off with, but the position we’re in – with regards to having the World Club Challenge – to have a tough game is probably more important than if we were just rolling into Super League.
“It’s going to be a great way to see how we’re shaping up.”
