Wigan star Abbas Miski never doubted his quality ahead of maiden Grand Final

11 October 2023 , 06:20

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Wigan Warriors' Abbas Miski scores another try (Image: PA)

A few months after playing for part-timers London against Keighley, Wigan’s Abbas Miski lines up in Super League’s Grand Final insisting: “I always knew I was good enough.”

Since coming back from his brief Championship loan spell in March, the electric Lebanon winger has rattled off an astonishing 29 tries in 25 games and not missed a match. He hopes his next 80 minutes against Catalans at Old Trafford will see the League Leaders' Shield winners crowned champions and complete his own stunning turnaround. Australian-born Miski scored nine tries in as many games to show his promise last year following his initial to Wigan move from London.

Struggling for a spot this time around, he headed back to the capital for a one-off run-out and hasn’t looked back. Now 28, metre-munching Miski - who only made a handful of NRL appearances for Manly before moving to the UK - could easily have thought his chance had gone. But he maintained: “I never really got stressed about it.

“It was more the opposite: I knew I was very capable of playing at the highest level. If I didn’t think I was, then I’d have stopped playing a long time ago or just gone to a Championship team or gone back home. But I knew what I was capable of, especially at a team like Wigan who can get the best out of you, I was never derailed.

“That one London game I played was really a decision I made myself and with (Wigan coach) Matty Peet. I had the choice not to go there. I could have stayed here and trained or played in the reserves but I’m glad I went. I wanted the competition of the Championship, playing against a lot more men. It put me in good stead to perform well when I did get in the Wigan first-team. It was an important decision and I’m glad I did it.”

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Fellow Aussie Bevan French’s switch from wing to stand-off freed up the chance for Miski to make his mark. He added: “Bevan moving into the halves helped a lot. We have a close relationship as I do with Toby (King). Those things, along with the coaching I’ve got, definitely helped me put in those performances and I knew I could do that if I got a string of games together.

Wigan's Abbas Miski runs in for another try during the BetFred Super League match against Leigh Leopards. (MI News/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)

“I still haven’t really tried to think about Saturday too much. I don’t know what it’ll be like as I’ve never been before. I want to enjoy the moment. But winning is everything.”

And he’ll be up against fellow flier Tom Johnstone who sits with him as Super League’s top-try scorer on 27. Miskas added: “He’s a great player. He’s probably the best competition I can get as a winger. It’ll be a really good fight. One I’m hoping not to lose.”

David Craven