Challenge Cup Final: Junior Nsemba’s rapid rise at Wigan

At 6ft 5in tall and with an impressive physique, Junior Nsemba has all the tools to thrive in any sport.

With cousin Alex and uncle Rigobert Song having played at the highest level of football for clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona, ​​playing with the round ball seemed the likely path to prowess.

Indeed, at first he enjoyed playing football with his friends. However, the boy of Cameroonian heritage had his head turned by a very different game. Rugby league.

Growing up in Wigan, it was perhaps inevitable that this deep-rooted code would come to capture his heart.

“I was doing both at the same time at one point, but I fell in love with rugby league when I touched a rugby ball,” Nsemba, 19, told BBC Sport.

“You can tell as a rugby community it’s like a family. Once I got the ball for Wigan St Judes it was amazing, I didn’t want to go back.”

It was a decision that paid off very well. Having made his way into the squad, Nsemba is set to feature for Wigan Warriors as they take on Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup final on Saturday.

Football’s loss is absolutely rugby league’s gain.

Still, it takes some growing up from picking up a ball as a kid to becoming a star as a man.

Nsemba, who turns 20 at the end of June, has navigated each challenge with athletic ease and grace.

He first made his 18-year-old debut in 2022, having bowed out to the academy and reserves shortly before.

His rise has been so rapid that the last time Wigan reached the final in 2022 at Tottenham, Nsemba watched from the stands alongside his academy team-mates.

Now he is on the verge of appearing at Wembley and emulating his footballing relatives in the process – having played just 30 senior games.

Some players go an entire career without such a moment to shine.

“From a selfish perspective, it’s amazing for me to get there, it’s the first time,” Nsemba added.

“I smile a lot but the team has put in a lot of hard work to get there and hopefully we can perform.”

The key to his progress has been family, be it his parents’ upbringing or the ‘family’ that is his teammates at Robin Park.

He will bring it all together on Saturday as the Nsemba clan contingent watch for the Wembley arch, including his five-year-old brother.

“Matt Peet is very interesting about the culture, so as a team it’s really big because we’re close together, for the families there,” Nsemba said.

“He’s a family man, I think that’s what brought me close to Matt and the club, how he involved family and friends in everything.

“Playing with the boys is like playing with a family, the boys support me if I screw up and we go again.

“We’ve got their backs as well. We all know we’re there for each other.”

On Wigan’s maroon and white pitch, Nsemba is a muscular threat; a wide-running ram whose form and performance belies his youth.

Outside of her is a calm, attentive presence with an easy manner and an infectious laugh.

He chuckles when rhythm is described as one of his attributes, while his face lights up with the aforementioned beaming smile.

Humble and personable, Nsemba is living the dream, but taking each experience in his stride, as advised by his parents and Matt Peet.

Wembley might be a moment to savour, but he won’t be fussing about it ahead of time.

“I feel like it has to be a thing at the moment, I didn’t really think about it before,” Nsemba continued.

“I’ll deal with it when it comes and take it as it goes.”

Saturday’s final will always be Nsemba’s first trip to Wembley, but it won’t be his last if he fulfills his great promise.