Ryan Hampshire grateful for taking chance at Wakefield Trinity following grounding at Wigan Warriors

The 25-year-old utility back joined Wigan Warriors as a 16-year-old and made his Super League debut with the club in June 2013.

He left for Leigh Centurions in 2017 after spending time on loan at Workington Town and Castleford Tigers during his time with the Warriors.

Following the Centurions’ relegation from the top flight in 2017, Hampshire was left without a club but was grateful that Trinity gave him a chance to join another Super League side.

“I followed Wakefield everywhere, I went to every single game; play-off games and Catalans away,” said Hampshire recalling his days as a young fan.

“It was weird when I signed for them, I was in limbo because I was at Leigh and they got relegated and I didn’t have a contract. Wakefield came and gave me a chance and I took it.

“It was a lot less money that what I had been on but it was something new and a chance to play for my hometown team and build myself back up again, which I needed at that point in my career.”

Hampshire made 22 appearances for Castleford during a loan spell in 2016.

He admits he struggled to break into the team initially but still fondly remembers his time at Wheldon Road.

He said: “I actually loved it at Cas.

“I didn’t go that well for me at the start, I was struggling to get into the team to grips with their structures and stuff.

“I ended up playing more towards the back end of the year and I loved it.

“The boys were great and working under Daryl Powell, Ryan Sheridan and Danny Orr took my knowledge of the game even higher.”

Of his early years at Wigan, Hampshire recalled: “I couldn’t have asked for a better platform in the academy to bring us up through the club.

“Eventually playing for them was great.

“It is a club who are always in and around trophies. It was a great time playing there.

“It got me to where I am now.”