Cross-code rugby legend Jason Robinson cannot contain his excitement ahead of son Lewis Tierney’s Wigan Warriors debut at Widnes Vikings tonight.
Tierney, 18, will line up for Shaun Wane’s side tonight with injury ruling out nine senior players.
And Rugby Union World Cup winner Robinson, who made his name at the Warriors before swapping codes and starring for Sale Sharks, says Tierney is raring to go.
“I’m extremely proud as he’s worked extremely hard over the years and now he gets his chance, so he’s very excited,” Robinson told BBC Radio Manchester.
“As a father it’s such a big occasion, especially with my links to Wigan and making my debut there as an 18-year-old as well.
“There’s always going to be added pressure when your father has done well but for me I don’t put pressure on him, it’s just about him getting out there enjoying it, working hard and doing well.”
Robinson, man-of-the-match when Wigan won the inaugural Super League Grand Final in 1998, played more than 300 times for the Warriors between 1992 and 2000.
Alongside winning the World Cup in 2003, he also inspired Sale Sharks to the 2005/06 Guiness Premiership title, to become the first man to win finals in both codes.
Although estranged from Tierney’s mother, Robinson has played a big part in his son’s upbringing and has challenged his son to establish himself in the Wigan set-up.
“He’s got to press on and try and do the best he can and be sure this is not just a one off,” he added. “His next goal is to make it a regular occurrence.
“He’s got to where he’s got to at this moment in time because of all the effort he’s put in, not because of what I did in the past.
“There is always going to be added pressure but this in the nature of the job – it’s Wigan, the biggest club in the world of rugby league.”
Image courtesy of GreatSportsmanship, via Youtube, with thanks.
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