Matt Peet not sweating over potential suspension while Brad O’Neill enjoys shift to new position

The 21-year-old started in his normal position during the Round 11 clash, with interchange hooker Kruise Leeming coming on midway through the opening period and later scoring his fifth try for the Warriors against his former club.

Upon his return to action in West Yorkshire, academy product O’Neill was trialled in the position as Wigan raced away to a comfortable 48-6 victory over Ian Watson’s Giants to climb to the top of the Super League table.

“It’s always one that we knew we had up our sleeves,” Wigan boss Matt Peet said.

“It was a day for mobility. Kruise was playing well and I wanted to get Brad back on defensively, but it would have been silly to bring Kruise off with the amount of damage he was causing them and he was defending well, too.

“I thought it was a game for that, a few people moved into different positions. I liked the balance of it.”

O’Neill explained that he had previously played at 13 as a junior through the club’s ranks, and would put his hand up to do so again if called upon.

“I’ve played at loose forward before, coming through the academy and for the reserves, I feel that I can play both,” the youngster said.

“I felt like when I came on, it probably sped the game up for the last 20 minutes and it gave Kruise a lot of quick rucks and he played on the back of that.

“It works well. It’s always been there but I think that’s one of the first times I’ve played there in Super League.

“If I’m needed to do it again, then I will. I wouldn’t say no to playing there.”

Meanwhile, head coach Peet has confirmed that the club will not be appealing the two-match suspension handed to Liam Byrne following his sin-bin for the first tackle of the game on Matty English.

It means the Ireland international prop will miss Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final clash against Hull KR in Doncaster.