Confirmed that he's hanging his boots up at the end of this season.

rlhttps://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2020/11/13/oloughlin-to-call-time-on-19-year-career/rl

Not a big shock, but still the end of an era.

Absolute model pro and a modern day Wigan legend!

It’s a struggle to put into words how good he has been for us both on and off the field. Here’s hoping he gets to go out on a high, he deserves it.

Such a shame he is going out with no fans (same with James Graham) to give him the send off he deserves.

That's me tuning in to the awards dinner next week.

I’m sat here feeling old as it doesn’t seem two minutes since watching him break through. What an absolutely brilliant player he’s been for us and the game. He is an extremely special talent and and will be sadly missed. The time is right however in all but the fact he’ll retire in an empty stadium. We’ve a way to go yet but it could be Lockers vs Graham in their final games and that would be very fitting. Two absolute legends of the game.

Announced he will go straight into the Wigan hall of fame too.

He's been my favourite player for pretty much his whole career. Sad to see him go but hopefully they can end on a high.

World class a phrase banded about far too often but totally appropriate in relation to Lockers when he was at the height of his game and as a leader throughout his entire Wigan career.

In some ways I wish he had gone to Australia for a couple of years just to get the recognition he deserved as I’ve no doubt he would have been a massive hit over there.

An absolute Wigan legend deserving to be mentioned alongside the likes of Hanley, Farrell and Edwards et al.

I think he is destined to be a head coach of the club in the future and I look forward to seeing how his coaching career pans out.

I didn’t rate him.

(I got that slightly wrong).

Legend

I suppose the greatest tribute I can pay him is to tell a little story about something that happened when we went to Aus for the Wigan v Hull game.

We had a few beers with some of the ex. Wigan Aussie players. One of our group asked who did they think could have played at the top level over in Aus?

To a man they all said "Lockers, he would walk into ANY Australian team"

It seems anyone who's played with him puts him as one of if not the best they've ever played with. People like Richards and Hoffman have said it and when you look at who they've played with it really tells you how good lockers has been.

You get two type of fans when it comes to SOL, those that put him up there with the very best and those that just don`t see it, I have always said that people that don`t rate SOL don`t have a great knowledge of the game, the type of player that can influence a game without even touching the ball, even more so I would argue later in his career, Wigan just look a better team when he is on the pitch. I assume that for the Wigan supporters it has been a pleasure to watch him week in week out over the last 15 years

I would guess that you will be keeping him on under some capacity in coaching?

Sean O'Loughlin is one of the greatest players to pull on the jersey. Simple as that. He did the little details better than anyone who has played for us in the SL era.

His whole all round game is/was so strong. A complete player. I have never seen another player like him. Could carry the ball like a prop, could pass the ball like a half back (that pass for Dan Sarginson at pace v Saints Good Friday away comes to mind) or setup a try with a perfect chip kick to the corner. He is not a traditional loose forward- he is too skillful to be labelled that. Ferocious in defence; stats don't tell you how hard he hits opponents. So consistent. Brilliant, brilliant player. World class.

So in summary - I rate him.

Nathan Brown when he was at Saints sums it up:

“Sean took us to school. He’s easily the best loose forward in the
world — miles better than anyone in Australia.”

Very lucky to have had a player of his calibre play for us for 19 years. A privilege to have watched him play.

A Wigan great - no more no less, I very much doubt we will see a player of his type again sadly. Wish him all the luck for whatevwer he does next not only has he been a great player but a great clubman as well.

My favourite player, played in good times and bad. Had the burden of being Farrells successor and met the challenge.

Honestly I’ve no words to adequately describe what Lockers has been to this club. A legend doesn’t even come close to being able to describe him or his stature not just at Wigan but in the game.

An ultra leader, captain and all round person. A fine example for the next Wigan captain. We genuinely will probably never see another like him.