Something I dreamed of: Wigan youngster on making his Good Friday derby debut

Brad O’Neill was just a youngster when he watched Liam Farrell score the winner in the 2011 Good Friday derby. 12 years on, he’s preparing to play in the Good Friday derby himself.

O’Neill watched Farrell’s last-minute try in their 28-24 win over rivals St Helens back in 2011 as a nine-year-old in the South Stand of the DW Stadium.

And this week, he will line-up alongside Farrell when Wigan host Saints in the traditional Easter derby, with more than 23,000 tickets sold.

“It’s a massive game,” O’Neill told Love Rugby League.

“Growing up as a kid I’ve been to a few of these, I remember when Liam Farrell scored the winner in 2011. I was in the South Stand.

“Growing up as a kid, playing at the DW in front of a packed house was something I dreamed of in a Good Friday game.”

Brad O’Neill enjoying fatherhood

O’Neill is a born and bred Leyther, but always grew up supporting Wigan, with all of his family being massive fans of the Warriors.

The 20-year-old will have a large following at the DW on Good Friday, including his daughter Arabella and his partner Alice.

O’Neill’s daughter Arabella arrived just days before Wigan’s win over Saints in last year’s Challenge Cup semi-final.

And Arabella and Alice proudly watched O’Neill help the Warriors lift the Challenge Cup at Tottenham a couple of years later.

“It’s been a really good 12 months,” O’Neill said.

“I remember her starting off as a baby after the semi-final and two weeks after we won the Challenge Cup with her watching and we’ve kicked on this year. There has been some long nights but it has been really enjoyable.

“They’ll be there on Friday, they never miss a game. Everyone will be here on Friday! I think there will be 10 or 15 here this week. All my family are really big Wigan fans and always have been, so they’ll be here.”

Facing an old mate

O’Neill will come up against St Helens half-back Lewis Dodd on Friday, who he played his junior rugby with at Halton Farnworth Hornets.

He said: I played with Lewis Dodd, we played together on the same team. I’m really good friends with him.

“The derby is massive. I obviously know the importance of it having come here as a fan. Hopefully we can get the job done and give the fans something in return.”

O’Neill has made 25 appearances for the Warriors since making his first team debut in 2021.

He has been taken under the wing of experienced hooker Sam Powell, who is enjoying his testimonial year.

O’Neill said: “Last year Pow really helped me come through at a time when I was just having a baby and I played in some big games then.

“He was a bit like my right-hand man talking me through my performances and helping me in the big games.”

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