- Nsemba’s Wigan will take on Warrington Wolves in final on Saturday afternoon
- His uncle played at Wembley for Cameroon, captaining his side against England
- The teenager opened up on how he turned his back on football to pursue rugby
When Junior Nsemba walks out at Wembley on Saturday afternoon, he will be following in the footsteps of a famous family member. ‘I will definitely send him a photo of the pitch so it brings back memories for him,’ says the 19-year-old Wigan Warriors prop.
The recipient of that picture? Nsemba’s uncle Rigobert Song. The former Liverpool and West Ham defender played at Wembley in the days of the Twin Towers, captaining Cameroon in a 2-0 friendly defeat against Glenn Hoddle’s England in 1997.
Song – who is married to the sister of Nsemba’s father Pascal – is the most-capped footballer in Cameroon’s history. He appeared in four World Cups and managed them at the last tournament in Qatar, before being sacked in February.
‘My dad always tells me what a good player he was,’ says Nsemba, whose parents emigrated to Wigan from Cameroon prior to his birth. ‘It’s hard to live up to his name because he’s done many great things. He’s not been to a game yet but hopefully I can get him down one day.’
Nsemba started out in football himself, playing for local junior club Winstanley Warriors. His football-mad dad dreamed of him emulating his uncle in the sport. However, Nsemba soon found he was more suited to an oval ball than a round one.
‘I just wasn’t really enjoying football,’ admits the towering teenager. ‘I was getting moved positions all the time, from striker to centre back, and I asked my dad if there was another sport I could try out.
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‘Wigan St Judes was across the road from Winstanley and as soon as I touched a rugby ball, I fell in love with the sport. At about 13, I got told I had to make a decision and I chose rugby.’
Nsemba was soon spotted by current Wigan head coach Matt Peet, who brought him into the Warriors fold and handed him his Super League debut aged 18 in 2022.
When he scored his first senior try in a Challenge Cup win at Leeds last year, BBC commentator Dave Woods came out with the memorable line: ‘Remember, remember, Junior Nsemba.’ And the 6ft 5in Nsemba has since shown he is not likely to be forgotten, establishing himself as a first-team regular and emerging as one of rugby league’s best young talents.
This season, he has taken his chance with the Super League champions in the absence of his hero and mentor Willie Isa, who broke his ankle in April. ‘When I started watching rugby, Willie was the person I looked up to,’ admits Nsemba. ‘I’m covering his position now and I feel like I am doing a good job.
‘But before and after games, I chat to Willie and ask what he thinks I can do better. I am lucky to have him as a mentor.’
Nsemba is also guided by his Christian faith, proudly showing Mail Sport his tattoo of a lion, lamb and cross on his right forearm. ‘I go to church on the Sundays when I can,’ he says. ‘Before games, I listen to a bit of drill, R&B, then I switch to gospel to calm me down before a match.’
He admits keeping calm will be harder than normal before today’s Challenge Cup final against Sam Burgess’ Warrington Wolves. ‘It’s a big occasion and I am nervous,’ says Nsemba, who will have 15 family members and friends in the crowd.
‘Since I started playing rugby, I’ve always wanted to achieve something and even getting to Wembley is a very good achievement. It’s a dream come true.’
Should he continue his current trajectory, it will not be long before Nsemba realises another dream by playing for his country – albeit it will be a different one to his uncle.
‘There’s very few Cameroonian players in rugby league and it is special being one of them,’ adds Nsemba. ‘But it would be amazing to play for England one day. If I can continue to work hard and do what the coaches are asking, then hopefully at some point in my life I will get there.’