As Super League expectation rises, the Wigan Warriors coach waxes poetic about Christian Wade.

Before stating that “he isn’t a million miles away” from making his debut, Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet acknowledges that newcomer  has been “outstandingly good” in training.

Wade, who signed a short-term contract with the Warriors for the rest of the 2025 Super League season, has been practicing with the team for a few weeks. Wade was once a representative for the British and Irish Lions.

After playing for the Reserves in victories over the Castleford Tigers and St Helens, where he scored two tries, Wade has played in two rugby league games.

Although the 34-year-old winger has not yet made his Super League debut, Peet acknowledged that Wade is not far from making his first-team debut since he has demonstrated a desire to pick up skills and adjust to the 13-a-side code. However, he is expected to stay in the Reserves for another week or two.

Wade has been exceptionally skilled in practice, but especially in the atmosphere, according to Peet.

“All of the guys are talking really well of him, so it looks like he’s quite popular with the group. Despite being somewhat new to the game, he looked extremely natural and performed well for the Reserves over the weekend.

“We’ll probably keep monitoring him in training and the Reserves over the next week or two, but he could feature in the squad; he isn’t a million miles away.”

Peet has commended Wade’s approach to his new code and acknowledges that he has been impressed by how the seasoned winger has adjusted and handled his move from rugby union to rugby league.

“He hasn’t played a Super League game yet, but he has a good understanding of some of the basics of rugby league that I thought would take him longer to learn, and that’s because he has been so diligent and hard working,” Peet said.

“He is one of those guys who is the first in and last out, and he accepts that he has got a lot to learn, but he has committed himself to it wholeheartedly.”

Wade is exempt from Wigan’s pay ceiling because of the New Talent Rule, which states that players who switch from another sport only get 50% of their salary in the second year and £0 in the first.

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