Jai Field confirms NRL ‘aspiration’ and talks Wigan Warriors’ future

Wigan Warriors full-back Jai Field has spoken about the fact that he still harbours ‘aspirations’ of playing in the NRL, although the 26-year-old has confirmed he is “really content” in Super League right now.

Field has been one of the competition’s standout full-backs for the past two seasons but originally joined Wigan Warriors as a half-back, one of many young NRL halves to make the move to Super League in recent years.

As opposed to the typical trend of NRL players retiring in Super League, plenty of players have come in the early stage of the career to develop and shine which is something that Field has explained is incredibly prominent among spine players.

“I think it’s getting a lot more common now, I probably would say, for spine players because obviously now some of the best half-backs and full-backs are running around over there in the NRL till late mid-30s,” the Australian explained when appearing on The Bench Podcast with Jenna and Jon.

“You can be a young kid coming through with probably all the potential but you’re just stuck behind players and you need something drastic to happen at that club for you to get it going.”

For Field, who came from Parramatta Eels, he explained that it was Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown in front of him, meaning, as he stated: “There’s not really a pathway for you”.

Wigan Warriors Quiz: Can you name these former Super League players?

Field makes NRL admission

Wigan Warriors signed Field for the 2021 season, the majority of which he missed after tearing his hamstring in his first game in the Cherry and White colours.

However, he came back stronger and has become the latest in a string of successful spine players that has moved from Australia at an early age, a trend that he foresees as continuing but admitted that it’s with the intention to ‘go back’.

Field explained: “Brodie is over here now, Jackson’s been, Bevan, Blake Green before that as well he was sort of maybe the pioneer plus Jamie Lyon, players like that.

“People now are starting to see that and the Super League clubs are getting kids out of those systems that are still hungry because that is your aspiration, you do want to go back.

“It’s obviously not happened yet but I’ve landed on my feet here at a great club and a good team.”

Currently, Field is contracted until the end of the 2025 season with a further two years in his favour at the end of that meaning he could well remain with the club until the end of 2027. Just last week, Liam Marshall was the latest in a string of players to extend their deal.

Wigan Warriors star “really content”

Field is at the best team, at least if trophies are to be believed, with Wigan Warriors currently holding all the possible trophies available to them and that looks set to continue given their incredible squad.

He explained: “With the players that we’ve locked down as well so it’s an exciting time. I think other boys as well at the club are seeing that. Bevan’s just re-signed again, locked himself in, I’m here. Wardle’s signed, so seeing those players sign just sort of makes you weigh it all up really.”

The question for Field, and others like him who came over with the goal of developing before making an NRL return, would be ‘Is the grass always greener on the other side?’

Field stated: “Do you want to stay and be a part of something special or go back to maybe the first NRL team that jumps at you and you’re putting your neck back on the line to go and play each week?

“You may not even get picked again, you’re going back there to do that. You could be in and out of reserve grade again, whereas you stay here and you have a chance of doing something great with a group team and a group of people.

“I’m really content at the moment. The players have signed, as I’ve touched on before, it’s an exciting time to be at the club. At the moment, I’d say I’m real content here. I’ve signed two deals since I’ve been here and obviously that says plenty for the club and how settled I am here.”