SEAN O’Loughlin has high hopes the two ex-Barrow Raiders players now plying their trade at Wigan Warriors will be able to make their mark during the 2019 Super League season.

Chris Hankinson, who stepped up to the Cherry and Whites from the Raiders’ Betfred Championship rivals Swinton Lions last July, has been joined at the DW Stadium by Joe Bullock after he completed his long-arranged move from Barrow during the off-season.

Centre Hankinson’s first experience of Super League was a derby clash with St Helens – who provide Wigan’s first opposition of the season tomorrow night – following an injury to Oliver Gildart and he followed that up with a try in the 25-20 win over Catalans Dragons before suffering his own injury.

However, the 25-year-old is back to full fitness and has old team-mate Bullock alongside him now, with the prop in line to make his bow for the defending champions away to Saints tomorrow after scoring tries in the pre-season clashes with London Skolars and Salford Red Devils.

“He’s settled in well,” said O’Loughlin of Hankinson. “When we he came in, Gilly was injured and he got a good number of games, then as Gilly was coming back he picked up an injury and missed the back end of the year for us.

“He’s applied himself really well, worked hard on his game and got the chance last year, and hopefully he gets some more games this year.”

“Joe has really dug in during pre-season and worked hard, and settled in well with the lads. When boys come in, they knuckle down and work hard, and it’s great to see.

“Again, he’s someone who will definitely get his chance this season and hopefully we’ll see him do well.”

England captain O’Loughlin has been keeping a close eye on the young players coming through the youth system at Wigan too, having starting working with the club’s academy set-up recently.

Among those is Dalton youth product Liam Paisley, who made his Super League debut last June away to Castleford Tigers and played in four further games.

The 21-year-old was one of several up-and-coming Wigan players to feature in last Saturday’s 18-18 draw with Barrow and O’Loughlin is pleased to see others following the path he took through the Warriors’ academy.

“I help out with the academy, so you get to see players coming through the scholarship and into the academy,” said O’Loughlin.

“It’s good to see that crop of academy lads who are now full-time, and seeing them do well and get chances.”