Warrington boss Daryl Powell hopes Jacques O’Neill fulfils his rugby league potential now he’s out of Love Island - once he’s finished his modelling career!
O’Neill, 23, made a tearful exit from the reality ITV2 show earlier this week and visited his former team-mates at Castleford Tigers. Castleford released the hooker from his Super League contract last month so he could go on the show and he has also reportedly signed with FOMO Models. The West Yorkshire club has first option if he decides to return to rugby league and Powell knows him well.
He signed O’Neill for Castleford as a junior from the amateur game, handed him his Super League debut and oversaw his development at Tigers before switching himself to Warrington at the end of last season. Powell said: “It’s been interesting watching! I’ve never watched the show but I watched it just to see Jacques.
“And he started off pretty well. I thought he came across really well early on and then… He’s come out of there and he’s talked a little bit about his mental health and that sort of thing and hopefully he’s alright. That is the main thing. His mum’s class. She’s such a lovely woman. I know she’ll look after him.”
Powell was always a big fan of O’Neill’s game when he was at Wheldon Road. Asked if he might work with him again, he said “I don’t know. He’s going to be modelling isn’t he and be in showbiz?! He’ll be like (TV presenter) Rylan. He’ll be flying.”
But Powell, who makes his first return to Castleford with Warrington tomorrow, would like the Cumbrian to get back involved if possible. He said: "Yes, I’d like to see him achieve his potential as a rugby league player. I actually bumped into him at my niece’s engagement party and just before he went in (to Love Island). I said ‘Hey, it’s not all about money, Jacques!’ and he said ‘No, and it’s not all about rugby either, Powelly!’
“So, I said, ‘alright, fair enough!’ He has had an issue with his hamstring which he was really concerned about. Look, he’s just trying to look after his future and I understand that. If he could get back into rugby league and get to his potential, then look, he’s a Super League player every day of the week.
“And a really good one. I’d just like to wish him all the best and I hope whatever he does, that he does well because he is a real likeable kid. “You saw some of that on the show.”
