Patrick Mago up for Wigan fight after training with boxing ace to get out of ‘comfort zone’

PATRICK Mago has already proved he is the man for a challenge after linking up with Wigan.

Just do not ask him to go through repeated pre-seasons.

Patrick Mago admits he likes getting out of his ‘comfort zone’SWPIX.COM

Mago joined the Warriors from NRL side South Sydney and is not afraid to meet things head on, as he was when he was younger.

As a teenager, he trained alongside heavyweight boxing contender Alex Leapai and as a member of Australia’s Junior Kangaroos, he went face to face – literally – with a Junior Kiwis’ haka in a famous confrontation.

And the life lessons still ring true today as he gets to grips with life in Super League and understanding Wiganese.

That still does not mean he liked slogging through weeks of training.

Mago, 27, said: “Every day is a challenge to adapt but I’ve never been one to duck one.

“I really want to take myself out of my comfort zone and I knew I’d get something different from training with Alex.

“You should take that into everyday life, take yourself out of your comfort zone and go and try challenges.

“Alex did great things in boxing and his training was based on being more resilient. He told me there are going to be times where you feel you can’t keep going but if you keep going and get your head down, no-one can question your attitude.

“On the haka thing, it wasn’t anything disrespectful. It was more showing we knew they’d come out and show passion – we wanted to let them know we’re taking that challenge to them.

“And this year at Wigan is similar, that’s the reason why I’ve come. I know there are going to be games when people will want to jump all over us.

“But if we stick to what we can and control what we can, that’s the main challenge. We can’t do any more than be the best we want to be.

Mago was involved in a famous haka confrontation between his Junior Kangaroos and the Junior KiwisSWPIX.COM

“I’m a guy that hates pre-season, whether it’s in England or Australia, they’re always tough!

“But I liked to see my body change over the course-of it, so that’s a positive – running up sand dunes at Formby, though, wasn’t me.”

Prop Mago is part of a reassembled Warriors pack as new coach Matt Peet attempts to get them back to the Super League summit. So far, it is four wins from four games.

But while he may be on the other side of the world, some things will not change – the word ‘aiga’ is still on his wrist. To him, family is everything.

The 27-year-old added: “I still have aiga, Samoan for family, written on my wrist strapping as I put the things that mean the most to me and have driven me on it.

“If a game gets tough, I can just look at that and it gives me that extra drive.”

Mago trained alongside boxer Alex Leapai when he was younger

That drive may be needed as the Warriors round off their ‘tour de France’ with a visit to Catalans Dragons after squeaking past Toulouse 29-28.

And the Perpignan side’s boss Steve McNamara – who welcomes back five players from injury and suspension – knows this will be a real test of his men’s credentials.

He said, after giving his players three days off after three trips to England in four weeks: “Wigan matches are always difficult.

“You’re always in for a tough game against Wigan. We’ve quite a few ex-Wigan players in our group too, so that always adds a little bit to it.”