Wigan Warriors boss highlights star in the ‘running for player of the year’ following stellar performances
Abbas Miski celebrates his try against Leigh with team-mates Jai Field and Cade Cust. Photo by Dean Williams/Alamy Live News.
Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet believes star winger Abbas Miski is in the running for the club’s player of the year award.
Miski, 28, crossed for four tries in the recent 64-6 victory over Hull KR, just a week after scoring a hat-trick live on Channel 4 against rivals Leigh Leopards at the DW Stadium.
The Lebanon international has a total tally of 17 tries in 15 appearances, the fourth most in the Super League competition behind team-mate Liam Marshall, Leigh’s Josh Charnley and Catalans star Tom Johnstone.
Miski was given his first chance of the season in Round Seven against the Leopards at the Leigh Sports Village, and hasn’t missed a Super League game since.
His impressive performances also saw the club activate the one-year option on his contract, meaning he will remain with the Super League club for 2024.
It has been a rapid rise for Miski, who was limited to just nine appearances in his debut season with the club, crossing for nine tries. He also featured for Newcastle Thunder and London Broncos in the Championship in 2022, having joined the Warriors from the capital side.
Abbas Miski in the running for Wigan’s player of the year, says coach
When asked which Wigan players have impressed the most, Peet responded: “I think Abbas is the obvious one.
“Abbas was playing out on loan or in our reserve grade, and he’s probably in the running for our player of the year this year.”
Peet also highlighted the performances of rising hooker Brad O’Neill, who has made 20 appearances for the Warriors so far in 2023.
“Brad O’Neill is another one,” Peet said.
“He had a decent run mid-season last year, but he’s established himself in that starting role for us now and I love the way that he’s playing.”
Sam Powell recently returned to action following his surgery for the club’s reserves side, featuring in the 74-12 victory over the Robins. However, the veteran Wigan hooker now has competition to fight his way back into the starting side.
On Powell, Peet continued: “First thing we need from Sam is to get him back fit, as in training fit, contact fit, build his match time up and then I’ll be expecting him to compete for a position at hooker and that’ll put pressure on Brad and Cade [Cust].
“There’s going to be someone missing out every week, that competition for places can only be healthy for us.”
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