Wigan Warriors star Junior Nsemba asking Man Utd ace for advice ahead of Super League season – despite rift with family

NOT everybody would be looking to a Manchester United player for advice at the moment. But Wigan forward Junior Nsemba has been taking counsel from Red Devils No1 Andre Onana - despite the Warriors star’s uncle Rigobert Song dropping the keeper when he was Cameroon boss. Nsemba was the Super League smash hit of 2024, going from unknown to main man of the Quad-winning Warriors. The 20-year-old may be born and bred in Wigan but his roots are firmly in Cameroon.

And when United stars came to training with Warriors recently, there was only one he gravitated towards – Cameroonian Onana, another bloke who is decent with his hands. Nsemba said: “I spoke to him a lot. “He’s a very respectful guy and he knows how to use his words. “It wasn’t favouritism with me coming from Cameroon – we both hail from Yaounde – but he gave me advice about what to do with my life and how I should approach going back to Cameroon.

“He was very helpful. He’s top of his sport and having a conversation was special and he was intrigued about rugby as he didn’t know what it was. “When he saw us hitting the pads and other players, he was shocked. He was saying he’d get put in hospital. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. “And I’ve got a way of talking to him. Hopefully, we’ll see him in future.”. Wigan begin their Treble defence – there is no World Club Challenge this year – with Thursday's season opener against Leigh.

But in two weeks, the Warriors will swap Standish for the Strip as they head to Las Vegas to face Warrington. For Nsemba, though, that may mean a quiet week while his older team-mates, above the legal age for drinking in the US, can sample Sin City. He added: “I’ll drink Fruit Shoot and play chess – I can’t do anything else, can I?. “I’m still a young pup, so I won’t be stepping out of the hotel if I don’t really need to.

“And the fact I’m underage has been mentioned a lot. I’ve heard they’re really keen on checking if people are old enough. I’ll drink Fruit Shoot and play chess – I can’t do anything else, can I?. “I’m trying to ignore it until it comes and see what I can do. For now, I’m trying to block it out!”. They might not recognise Nsemba in the USA, but he is turning heads in the North West of England after his stellar year.

He is very much in demand - even when he goes to the supermarket. Nsemba said: “When I’ve been in Asda, I’ve seen the same guy three times. “I’ve had a couple of conversations with him and that’s good. It’s nice I’m being recognised and it puts a smile on my face knowing the community is recognising me. “And I’m not going to be fake. If fast food is on top of my trolley, I’ll keep it there – if Matt (Wigan boss Matt Peet) or someone walks through, I may need to hide it!.

“Hide the burgers!”. GARY CARTER'S predictions for the new season. CASTLEFORD. Coach: Danny McGuire. Big Signing: Daejarn Asi. Star Man: Tex Hoy. Last season: 10th. Hopes: THAT McGuire’s magic extends to his coaching after a legendary playing career. 2025 prediction: 10th. CATALANS. Coach: Steve McNamara. Big Signing: Tevita Pangai Jr. Star Man: Elliott Whitehead. Last season: 7th. Hopes: THAT the investment on the likes of Pangai Jr, Elliott Whitehead and Luke Keary brings glory to Perpignan.

2025 prediction: 6th. HUDDERSFIELD. Coach: Luke Robinson. Big Signing: Tom Burgess. Star Man: Taane Milne. Last season: 9th. Hopes: ROBINSON continues the work he showed as interim last year and the Giants can live up to the name. 2025 prediction: 12th. HULL FC. Coach: John Cartwright. Big Signing: John Asiata. Star Man: Herman Ese'ese. Last season: 11th. Hopes: THAT 2025 cannot be any worse than 2024. 2025 prediction: 11th. HULL KR.

Coach: Willie Peters. Big Signing: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Star Man: Mikey Lewis. Last season: 2nd and Grand Finalists. Hopes: TO GO one better than last year and bring glory to east Hull. 2025 prediction: 4th. Coach: Brad Arthur. Big Signing: Ryan Hall. Star Man: Brodie Croft. Last season: 8th. Hopes: Hard work and new attitudes brought in by Arthur midway through last season can get them back towards the top. 2025 prediction: 7th.

Coach: Adrian Lam. Big Signing: Isaac Liu. Star Man: Lachlan Lam. Last season: 5th. Hopes: HAVING lost several stars, the current crop – many of whom are in the final year of their contract – do it again. 2025 prediction: 8th. SALFORD. Coach: Paul Rowley. Big Signing: Chris Hill. Star Man: Marc Sneyd. Last season: 4th. Hopes: THE TAKEOVER - and the fire sale it removed - pays dividends sooner rather than later. 2025 prediction: 5th.

ST HELENS. Coach: Paul Wellens. Big Signing: Kyle Feldt. Star Man: Jack Welsby. Last season: 6th. Hopes: GETTING back towards the top table after dropping away. 2025 prediction: 3rd. WAKEFIELD. Coach: Daryl Powell. Big Signing: Tom Johnstone. Star Man: Max Jowitt. Last season: 1st in Championship. Hopes: TRINITY live up to owner Matt Ellis’ investment, on and off the field. 2025 prediction: 9th. WARRINGTON. Coach: Sam Burgess.