Tiaki Chan is determined to make the most of his return to Wigan Warriors in 2026 after a valuable loan spell with Salford last season.
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The 25-year-old forward enjoyed his first run out of the year in Wigan’s 34-22 pre-season loss to North Wales Crusaders on Saturday, and whilst the result was not the one he was hoping for, Chan was pleased to be back on the field and eager to build on his experience.
Tiaki Chan in action for Wigan Warriorsplaceholder image
Tiaki Chan in action for Wigan Warriors
“It’s a hit out, I’ll take it,” Chan told Wigan Today. “It was good to get the legs running again, good to get a hit out with the boys and get back to work.
“Obviously, it was a disappointing loss, but those boys played well, and they deserved the win. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it was good to get back out there with the boys.”
Chan has returned to Wigan following a season-long loan with Salford, whose off-field financial issues were well-documented throughout last season.
Despite the challenges the club faced, Chan looks back on his time with Salford with gratitude, acknowledging the growth he experienced both as a player and as a person, having made 23 appearances under then-coach Paul Rowley, who has taken the head coaching reins at St Helens ahead of the new campaign.
“I think everyone has seen what happened with Salford, and I’ve got nothing but love for everyone at Salford,” Chan reflected.
“I know they went through it hard – obviously, I was part of that group – but I’m very grateful for the experience. Going there and meeting a lot of people who are beautiful people that live and die by Salford.
“I think having a sit-down with Matty (Peet) at the start of last season, he just told me where I was and where we were at. I had some very honest conversations, and it’s something that I really need. I love honesty, and Matty is very honest with me. As a player, all you want is honesty and that game time, so going there (to Salford) was a great decision from him and me.
“I think I gained a lot of experience and saw what the other side of rugby league is like as well, when your back is against the wall every weekend, so it was a valuable experience and playing time that I needed, so I’m very happy and grateful for that.”
Back at Wigan, Chan is focused on pushing for more first-team appearances in 2026, with the France international making it clear that his goal is to ‘crack this team’ and keep working hard to earn his spot.
“I think I’m always learning, I want to get better and play better, and be a better person – not just on the field, not just at training, but around my whole lifestyle as well,” Chan said.
“I’m looking forward to this year and seeing what it holds for me, and obviously I want to crack this team and play for Wigan – that’s my dream and my goal – so I’m going to keep chipping away at it, and hopefully it happens.”
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