By Elizabeth Hudson

Richards has a goal-kicking average of over 80% this season

Whether or not Wigan can make it to the Challenge Cup semi-finals against Harlequins on Friday, winger Pat Richards is enjoying his second season at the JJB Stadium.

The former Wests Tigers player arrived at the club at the start of last season after winning an NRL Grand Final with the Sydney club and with expectations of more success with the Warriors.

But he struggled to make an impact as Wigan endured a poor start to the season, then parted company with coach Ian Millward and flirted with relegation before the arrival of Brian Noble steadied matters.

Richards still found himself criticised by many fans who were unconvinced about his abilities and there were rumours that he would be offloaded in the off-season to another club but the new season has seen him prove the doubters wrong in superb style.

"Even during the bad times I never thought about leaving Wigan," he told BBC Sport.

"You'll always have good and bad times and you learn things from it and now I'm playing well and enjoying things more this season.

As a team we need to find greater consistency Wigan's Pat Richards

"We're in a different position than we were this time last year when we had only won a handful of games and we were battling against relegation.

"We all learned a lesson from last year and finished the season well but the pleasing point was that we came out the other end better and credit to everyone at the club for that."

The 25-year-old has already notched 11 tries this season, close to last season's final total of 13.

He has also added another skill to his repertoire this season, taking over the goalkicking role after Michael Dobson's return to Australia and Danny Tickle's move to Hull, and the responsibility has visibly boosted his confidence.

"I'm enjoying the goalkicking and it obviously helps the team out when you can hit a few in a row," he admits.

"I had never been the first-choice kicker before but having been given the responsibility I'm really enjoying it even if it means doing some extra work on my kicking after training."

Richards celebrates victory in the NRL Grand Final with Wests Tigers

Wigan's Jekyll and Hyde-style displays over the last few weeks have baffled coach Noble and frustrated both the Wigan players and supporters.

They were devastating against Hull FC two weeks ago, coming from 16-2 down to win 47-16 with Richards notching a hat-trick of tries and kicking nine goals in a man of the match display at the KC Stadium.

But that performance came in the middle of a 12-10 defeat to struggling Hull KR and last weekend's 18-8 loss to Harlequins with Richards missing three goals in a below-par team display.

"As a team we need to find greater consistency and if we get that we can play better. We're on the right track, despite a few hiccups," he said.

"We seem to be playing well one week and not the next and that's something we have to put right to have any chance of success.

"There's a big incentive for both teams on Friday with a place in the semi-final of the Cup at stake and it will be good to be back at the JJB.

"When I was younger in Australia, I remember getting up early to watch the Challenge Cup final and Wigan used to be there or thereabouts. I'd love to be a part of it again this year but we can't think too far ahead."

But Richards, who has an Irish passport, thanks to his Dublin-born parents, is definitely eyeing up a place in the Ireland team at the 2008 World Cup.

Ireland face qualifiers against Lebanon and Russia in October and November as they chase a place in next year's finals in Australia.

"My parents came to Australia about two years before I was born and stayed there," he explained.