Junior Nsemba’s toughest opponent revealed as Wigan Warriors ace prepares for biggest game

He is the teenage star heading to Wembley after destroying Super League opponents. But towering Wigan second-row Junior Nsemba knows someone who can immediately cut him down to size – his mum. Standing at 6ft 5in, he was too big to handle for many already in his burgeoning career.

Ahead of facing Warrington in today’s Betfred Challenge Cup final, 19-year-old Nsemba admitted: “I am (rising up to the challenge). But I feel like I put a little too much pressure on myself. I come from Cameroon. My mom always tells me how it is: she’ll tell me if I’ve had a bad game, she’ll tell me she doesn’t want to come and watch the crap!

“There’s a little bit of pressure from her. But I like to hear it. My father, however, is a monotonous man. He won’t say much anyway!”

Although his parents are from Cameroon, Nsemba was born and raised in Wigan, so he knows all about the club’s rich Cup heritage as a record 20-time winner. But he has never visited Wembley before and admits he never saw the famous showpiece growing up.

Nsemba, whose uncle is Cameroon football legend Rigobert Song, said: “As a child, I just watched the highlights on YouTube! People like Kayln Ponga (from Newcastle Knights) and I’ve seen (Wigan team-mate) Bevan French a few times. It was great when I saw him do it for real in practice and now in games.”

This viewing content indicates that Nsemba wants to be a silky back rather than a forward – “‘That would never happen!’ – but he certainly made his mark up front for Matt Peet’s side. Today is only the 31st senior games, but he could already collect the most famous trophy in the sport.

With his blistering runs and big shots, Nsemba has carved out a starting spot for himself since veteran Willie Isa broke an ankle in April. Nothing seems to faze him and you sense it will be the same at Wembley on an emotional occasion for a number of reasons, not least because the sport is celebrating the late and great Rob Burrow.

Nsemba admitted: “I was a bit shocked with some of the things I did in the games. But I just have to work hard and improve. I can’t take anything for granted. I’m very glad. It’s amazing to play a great team like Wigan.

“But from the academy and reserves it was a big boost learning from different mentors like Faz (Liam Farrell) and Willie (Isa). It was amazing. Saturday is a big occasion and it’s great to get there. Warrington have strengths everywhere but we will give 100%. It would mean a lot if we could do that.”