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.
Wigan Warriors players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Betfred Challenge Cup final.
Junior Nsemba (right) won the Quad with Wigan last season - including the Challenge Cup and the World Club Challenge (below)Credit: PA
Junior Nsemba and Patrick Mago of the Wigan Warriors holding a trophy.
Nsemba with another of his trophiesCredit: Alamy
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana on the ground after a save.
Nsemba has Cameroonian roots and sought out Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana for adviceCredit: Rex
Andre Onana and Junior Nsemba at a meeting.
Onana and Nsemba met up at a Wigan Warriors training sessionCredit: SWpix.com
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.
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“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.
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“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.
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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?
JUNIOR NSEMBA ON GOING TO LAS VEGAS
“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.
Las Vegas welcome sign.
Wigan will play Warrington in Las Vegas in MarchCredit: Getty
“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.
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“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!”
SUPER LEAGUE 2025 GUIDE
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
LEEDS
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
LEIGH
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
Big Signing: Dan Russell
Star Man: George Williams
Last season: 3rd
Hopes: TO paraphrase the terrace chant, that it is finally their year.
2025 prediction: 2nd and Grand Finalists
WIGAN
Coach: Matt Peet
Big Signing: George Hirst (their only capture)
Star Man: Bevan French
Last season: 1st and champions
Hopes: FOLLOWING last season’s historic Quadruple with a Treble (there is no World Club Challenge this year)
2025 prediction: 1st and champions