For the time being, he is concentrating on the 2025 season and the opportunity to further solidify his legacy with Wigan, despite the looming uncertainty surrounding his contract talks.
Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell has made a surprising admission
regarding his future at the club, revealing that while he would love to remain
at Wigan for the rest of his playing career, he has not ruled out the possibility
of leaving should the situation arise.
Farrell, now 34, is entering the final year of his contract with his boyhood club,
having spent his entire professional career at Wigan except for a brief six-game
loan spell at Widnes Vikings back in 2010. Over the course of his 380
appearances, the forward has earned an impressive array of titles, including
six Super League championships, five League Leaders’ Shields, four Challenge
Cups, and two World Club Challenge victories. Farrell’s loyalty to Wigan has
been unquestionable, and the thought of him wearing any other jersey seems
almost unthinkable to many fans. However, with his contract expiring at the
end of 2025, there’s uncertainty surrounding whether he will continue at the
club for much longer.
Speaking candidly at Wigan’s pre-season media day, Farrell acknowledged
that the uncertainty about his future has been on his mind. However, he
stressed that it was not something that worried him at this point. “Of course
it’s on my mind. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t, but it’s not something I’m
worried about,” Farrell admitted. “At the moment, we’re just enjoying the time
together as a team. We’re having a lot of success, and off the field, we enjoy
being around each other. We’re just enjoying what we’re doing right now.”
The veteran forward, who has also earned 16 caps for England, made it clear
that as long as he continues to perform well and the club still wants him, he
hopes to extend his stay with Wigan beyond 2025. However, he was quick to
add that he was not exclusively tied to the idea of staying at Wigan and would
consider other opportunities if necessary. “I wouldn’t say it’s Wigan or bust
because I want to keep playing,” he explained. “Physically, I’m in a good
position and still enjoying my rugby league. I enjoy the tough parts of it, like
pre-season, and if my body ever gives up on me, that will be the time to move
on. But right now, I’m still loving what I’m doing.”
Farrell’s leadership has been crucial to Wigan’s success over the years, and in
December 2022, he was named the club’s captain, following in the footsteps of
Sean O’Loughlin. His contributions to the club’s successes, including his
memorable performance in the 2016 Super League Grand Final, have
cemented his place as one of the Warriors’ all-time greats. Yet, despite his
achievements on the field, Farrell is already considering his future beyond
playing.
“The ultimate aim for me is to remain at Wigan until the end of my career,”
Farrell said, reinforcing his long-term desire to stay. “But if that’s not the case,
maybe there will be an opportunity somewhere else.” While Farrell has never
seen himself as a coach, he expressed interest in staying involved in the sport
after his playing days, particularly in the performance side of things. Having
completed a master’s degree in sports science, Farrell is keen to explore
opportunities in this area once he retires from playing.
As one of the key figures in Wigan’s recent success, Farrell’s potential
departure would undoubtedly be a significant blow to the club. However, for
now, he remains focused on the 2025 season and the chance to add to his
legacy with Wigan, even as he faces the uncertainty of contract negotiations
ahead.
