Wigan Warriors star Brad O'Neill on Super League Dream Team debut, becoming a leader and Taylor Kerr emergence

Wigan Warriors star Brad O’Neill has reflected on his first Super League Dream Team selection, his development as a leader and Taylor Kerr’s emergence this season.

The 24-year-old hooker has enjoyed another strong campaign with his boyhood club, making more than 120 appearances for the Warriors so far and winning every domestic honour available to him.

O’Neill was named in the Super League Dream Team for the first time following a season which has seen Matt Peet’s side lift the Challenge Cup and secure the League Leaders’ Shield.

“It feels pretty cool,” O’Neill told Wigan Today. “It’s a special moment in my career - my first time in it - I’ve enjoyed my season, and it means I must have been playing well to be included in the Dream Team.”

Wigan endured a difficult spell around Easter, but responded strongly to go on and win the Challenge Cup at Wembley before finishing the regular season at the top of the Super League table, with their last defeat coming in the middle of May.

The Warriors secured the League Leaders’ Shield last weekend and will now have home advantage for their semi-final as they look to return to Old Trafford in the Grand Final.

“I feel like we started the season strongly, and then we went through a patch where we lost a couple of games around the Good Friday area,” O’Neill reflected.

“Since then, we’ve kicked on, won the Challenge Cup, and I feel like we’ve just been taking it week by week, focusing on our performances, and before you know it, we’ve ended up being in with a chance of winning the League Leaders’ Shield.

“We had a block of games at the end of the season where I think we had Wakefield, Hull KR, Leeds and Catalans, and we knew if we wanted to win the League Leaders’ Shield that we couldn’t lose a game, and we put all our focus on those games.

“We came through it as winners, and it led to being league leaders, but I feel like we’ve enjoyed the journey – we’ve had highs and lows – and I feel like that’s what has led us to where we are now. We’ve got a home semi-final, so we’ll see where we can go from there.”

O’Neill has also taken on greater responsibility within the Wigan squad over the last couple of years, with the hooker feeling his experience has helped him become more of a leader.

“I feel like I see myself as a bit of a leader, especially in the middle and around the pack,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been working on.

“I feel like naturally, the more you play and the more you win, the more confident you become. I feel like it helps with my leadership, and it’s something I’m enjoying and something I’m looking to build on as well.”

Another player to make a strong impression this year has been academy graduate Kerr.

The 20-year-old made his first-team debut in March and has featured 19 times during his breakthrough campaign, often providing impact from the bench and covering at hooker when required.

“He’s been a breath of fresh air - he comes on, has got plenty of aggression but is really skilful at the same time,” said O’Neill.

“He’s a natural loose forward, but he comes on for myself sometimes and plays a bit of nine. He works really hard - he is defence-focused first, but he’s a great player, has loads of skill and definitely has a bright future.

“He’s become a really good friend of mine this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing where he can go in the next couple of years.”