Code-hopper Christian Wade scores on Wigan Warriors debut

Christian Wade’s code-hopping odyssey took another step forward on Friday night, as the former England winger marked his professional rugby league debut with a try for Wigan Warriors in their 30–10 comeback win over Huddersfield Giants.

The 34-year-old, who only finished up with Gloucester a little over five weeks ago, crossed in the 49th minute of the Sir Billy Boston tribute match.

It was an at times raucous evening that saw Wigan overturn a 10–0 half-time deficit with five unanswered second-half tries.

Wade’s score came via a sharp handling move, which he finished in typically clinical fashion. While it wasn’t quite as dramatic as his NFL pre-season touchdown on debut, it reminded his new paymasters that he still has a nose for the whitewash.

🌟 Christian Wade scores on his Super League debut!

The multi-sport star has had a tough debut, but gets over the whitewash because he’s Christian Wade.

Proper athlete.pic.twitter.com/q6NaLTalkk

— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) July 11, 2025

“It’s amazing what he’s just done,” said Wigan head coach Matt Peet. “To play two reserve games, be with the club for four or five weeks, then to perform like that at the highest level — incredible.”

It wasn’t a spotless debut. Wade made a handful of errors under the high ball and incorrectly played the ball to hand back cheap possession to Huddersfield, who, aware of his inexperience, clearly made him a target.

But he didn’t go into his shell after what Sky Sports commentator Fraser Dainton described as a ‘baptism of fire’.

Instead, he backed up his try with a key role in Wigan’s second, leaping to bat back a high kick in the lead-up to Jake Wardle’s score, part of a flurry that swung momentum for his side.

For Peet, it was vindication of a punt well taken.

“We didn’t recruit him not to play,” he said. “We’ve loved what we’ve seen in training. If you don’t give players a go, you never find out — whether they’re young lads or 34-year-old superstars.”

Wade was handed his opportunity in part due to injuries, but he has shown enough to suggest this latest chapter in a nomadic sporting career might not be a short one.

“In the game it was electric!,” said Wade after the game. “It’s an intense environment, different – I’m ecstatic!”