Wigan Warriors confirm a devastating season-ending injury

Wigan Warriors have confirmed devastating injury news that prop Brad O’Neill has torn his ACL, meaning he will miss the rest of the 2024 season.

Depending on how his recovery goes, he is very likely to miss much of pre-season and perhaps even the start of the 2025 campaign, with the timeline still unclear as O’Neill awaits a specialist’s verdict.

Matt Peet announced the news when speaking to the media ahead of his side’s game against Huddersfield Giants on Thursday night, with the news later shared via the club’s social media.

Wigan Warriors had previously announced their 21-man squad for the game and O’Neill was a notable but expected omission, with fans fearing the worst after seeing him go down clutching his knee without contact in the 40-4 defeat to Warrington Wolves.

Matt Peet’s worst fears have now been confirmed.

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Wigan Warriors will play this season

Credit: Imago Images

In his short career so far, Brad O’Neill has won it all and, ahead of the 2024 season, he was handed the number nine shirt, showing the confidence Matt Peet has in him despite his youth.

Peet has now confirmed the 22-year-old Wigan Warriors star’s injury status, revealing: “It is confirmed that he has done his ACL and needs to see a specialist.

“All our concerns are for Brad, who has been through this before and is determined to come out stronger than ever.”

💬 MP on Brad O’Neill: “It is confirmed that he has had his ACL and must continue to follow a specialist.

“All our concerns are for Brad, who has been through this before and is determined to come out stronger than ever.” #WWRL #SLWIGHUD

— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) July 30, 2024

Speaking more generally about injuries, which have affected a number of teams and Wigan’s rivals St Helens in particular, Peet spoke about how it was for the next man. This has been evident in recent weeks with Zach Eckersley and Jack Farrimond replacing Jai Field and Bevan French.

The Wigan Warriors boss said: “When we talk about not being too giddy at other times of the year, it’s because you know you’re going to have a tough time.

“You can hope one doesn’t come, but you’re still preparing for one – that’s what your club and your team are made for.”

Wigan’s injury woes saw them lose two on the bounce and relinquish their grip on top spot in Super League, with the club slipping to third after last week’s heavy defeat.

Kruise Leeming will replace O’Neill, who has returned from injury himself, while full-back Jai Field is also in line to return after being named in the 21-man squad.