Wigan looking forward to Richards reunion

Wigan Warriors are looking forward to coming up against former club legend Pat Richards next weekend, according to their head coach and captain.

Richards spent eight seasons at Wigan, in which he claimed many trophies with the club as well as scooping the Super League Man of Steel award in 2010. 

After a short spell back with the West Tigers in Australia, Richards is now based in the south of France with the Catalans Dragons. 

The Dragons will travel to the DW Stadium on the opening weekend of Super League and his former coach Shaun Wane says he is sure he will be a great signing for the French outfit.

“Paddy will be a great asset for Catalans. Every time they score a try they’ll get six points” Wane told the club’s official website.

“He’s a great player and an even better man off the field. We remember him fondly at Wigan, his pictures are still up at our training ground at Orrell. We’re looking forward to seeing him and his family next week.”

A former teammate of Pat Richards is Wigan skipper Sean O’Loughlin, who admits it will be a strange sight seeing one of his close friends playing for the opposition next week.

“It will be weird seeing Pat out there playing for an opposing team,” he said.

“I’m sure it will be an experience for him too, I’ll have to send him a map of the stadium so he knows where the away changing room is!

“He’s one of my best mates in the game, our kids are a similar age our wives get along really well so we just naturally became great mates during his time at Wigan.”

O’Loughlin then said that he is looking forward to seeing Richards again, but said Wigan need to remain focused and remember that the former Wigan winger is now playing against them for Catalans.

“It’ll be great to see him though and I’m sure he’ll get a great reception from the Wigan fans,” he said.

“We’ll treat him like any other opposing player though. He’s a great player and we’ll do our homework on him as we look to get off to a winning start.”