He is, in the words of his club’s chief executive, the new ‘face of Super League’. He starred for Wigan Warriors as they won an historic quadruple and was rewarded with a new landmark six-year deal. He was crowned the Super League’s Young Player of the Year and then capped a stunning season by making his debut for England.
But life has not always been such plain sailing for Junior Nsemba.
Born in Wigan to Cameroonian parents, the towering 6ft 5in back-rower grew up in Marsh Green, statistically the town’s most deprived area, less than a mile from The Brick Community Stadium where he has made his name.
‘It was a difficult time,’ admits the 20-year-old. ‘Marsh Green is a loud community. There was always something going on and not particularly good things – drugs, crime, bullying.
‘I got bullied when I was a kid round there. They were pretty racist to me when I was 10, 11, 12. They would just come for me constantly. I didn’t really know racism was a thing until then so it was pretty upsetting.
‘But I was around a good group and we have gone down the right path. Some people may go down that other path but it’s just about finding your way out. I fought through it and I am here now.’
Junior Nsemba is, in the words of his club’s chief executive, the new ‘face of Super League’
Born in Wigan to Cameroonian parents, the 6ft 5in back-rower grew up in Marsh Green, statistically the town’s most deprived area, less than a mile from The Brick Community Stadium
Nsemba acknowledges that sport – first football and then rugby – was his saviour. His tough upbringing, however, explains why he is so keen to help those less fortunate in his community
Nsemba acknowledges that sport – first football and then rugby league – was his saviour. His tough upbringing, however, explains why he is so keen to help those less fortunate in his community.
He meets with Mail Sport on a visit to the warehouse of The Brick Multibank in Wigan. Since the anti-poverty charity started this project two years ago, 1.5million everyday essentials – from clothing to toiletries – have been redistributed to 185,000 hard-up families in the surrounding area.
Nsemba has also previously volunteered at The Brick’s homeless drop-in centre. ‘I have popped in there a few times to go in there and chat with some of the people, which is very special,’ he says. ‘They see us as heroes but we are just normal people. My family came from quite a struggle, so I kind of get what these guys are going through.
‘Obviously, I am not in their position now and I hope that they get out of their position. It is pretty upsetting how some people struggle, not having food and shelter, but The Brick are doing an amazing job at keeping them safe.
‘I already do my own stuff with my family in Cameroon, where my mum helps run an orphanage. I give clothes and a load of the Wigan boys have supplied kit. But I want to start giving even more to Wigan because it is my home town.’
On Tuesday night, Nsemba will get up close with the locals again when Wigan host a ‘Night Under the Lights’ – an open-training session for fans, who are encouraged to donate hygiene products as part of the Multibank’s Christmas campaign.
Strengthening the club’s connection to the town is as important as silverware for Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski and head coach Matt Peet, who send their academy graduates – which included Nsemba two years ago – into the community on two week’s work experience each pre-season.
‘I got the toughest job of bricklaying,’ recalls Nsemba. ‘It is basically to show us what life can be like if we don’t concentrate or get our head down.’
He starred for Wigan Warriors as they won an historic quadruple and was rewarded with a new landmark six-year deal
His uncle is Rigobert Song, the former Cameroon and Liverpool defender
Nsemba was crowned the Super League’s Young Player of the Year last season
Fresh terms came amid interest in Nsemba (pictured, with ball) from big clubs in Australia’s NRL
With Nsemba’s talent, it was unlikely he was ever going to need to pick up a trowel again. He made his Super League debut aged 18 in 2022, then scored his first senior try in a Challenge Cup win at Leeds last year.
He started this season on crutches after having a meniscal repair and was not part of Wigan’s squad for February’s World Club Challenge, when they beat NRL champions Penrith. But after replacing the injured Willie Isla in April, Nsemba has not looked back, helping the Warriors win the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and Grand Final.
‘It has gone crazy,’ he says. ‘Knowing that I’ve been in a squad that has done the quadruple, which has not been done before in Super League, it’s an amazing feeling.
‘I set myself goals at the start of the year and Young Player of the Year was something I was aiming for so when I did get it, it was a blessing.’
Nsemba’s meteoric rise was complete when he made his first appearance for England in their second Test against Samoa at Headingley last month.
‘Oh, damn. I don’t even know how to describe it,’ says Nsemba, whose uncle is Rigobert Song, the former Cameroon and Liverpool defender. ‘Going on that pitch, it was almost as mad as walking out at the Grand Final. It was a crazy experience.’
After such a standout season, Nsemba was handed a new six-year contract, just 12 months after he signed a four-year deal. The fresh terms came amid interest in Nsemba from some of the biggest clubs in Australia’s NRL.
‘The NRL were interested, but I wasn’t interested,’ he insists. ‘It’s nice to get recognition and people be interested in me, but when the staff are looking after you at a club like Wigan, it’s a loyalty thing.’
His uncle Song played 38 games for Liverpool and 137 matches for his country
Strengthening the club’s connection to the town is as important as silverware for Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski
Nsemba revealed he once had two sessions with Sale Sharks when his current boss Peet was at the Premiership club as head of performance
Nsemba made his first appearance for England in their second Test against Samoa at Headingley last month (pictured: England’s Herbie Farnworth and Harry Newman with the trophy afterwards)
Wigan supremo Radlinski, who joins Mail Sport with Nsemba at The Brick Multibank, was the one who moved quickly to tie down his prize asset, one of the hottest properties in the northern hemisphere.
‘We are very lucky to have him,’ he says. ‘I have been at the club many years now and he has got a point of difference, something we’ve never seen before. He’s a phenomenal athlete and a destructive player but with a real heart of gold.
‘He is probably the face of Super League at the moment. We are going to work with him for the next stage of his career to raise his profile but he is doing a lot of it himself. The world’s his oyster. He has a wonderful future.’
Some have suggested that future could include him switching to rugby union. Nsemba has revealed he once had two sessions with Sale Sharks when he was still a Wigan youth player and when his current boss Peet was at the Premiership club as head of performance.
But Nsemba adds: ‘I don’t get the sport! I genuinely don’t get it with the way they tackle and everything. I’d need to watch it a bit more first. In the future, I can think about it. But right now, I am loving rugby league.’
