Wigan Warriors sees young gun Zach Eckersley playing in the centres long-term, but believes he will benefit from getting a run of games under his belt on the wing.
The 21-year-old brings plenty of utility value to Matt Peet’s side, being comfortable playing wing, centre and fullback.
Eckersley has been able to get experience on the wing this season due to the absence of the injured Abbas Miski, and Peet believes this will only assist him.
“I think he’s a centre,” Peet remarked.
“But I believe that most, if not all, of the top-line centers started out on the wing for obvious reasons.
“It’s a great opportunity for him to get a taste of regular Super League, and also in a position that is more physical than centre these days.”
In last week’s triumph over the Castleford Tigers, the Warriors were missing their first-choice wingers, Liam Marshall and Miski, who are well-known for their backfield effort.
“Your senior players, your first-choice players, are in that position for a reason,” Peet remarked when asked if they needed to change their game plan without Marshall and Miski.
“This is a club where we enjoy both periods equally. We could cobble about and play individuals out of position, and we may have to do so at times, but for the time being, we’re choosing to believe in our path.
“We’re not talking about babies here; Jacob (Douglas), Zach (Eckersley), and Jack (Farrimond) have been full-time for a couple of years now, and it’s the next stage of their development, and you’ve got to be confident they’ll seize it with both hands, not only as replacements, but also by putting pressure on (the players in front of them).
“As I’ve previously stated, that’s how we discovered Harry Smith, Junior (Nsemba), and the list goes on. So some people’s tragedy creates opportunity for others, and that is how the squad grows.”
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