Star player reveals he turned down NRL interest to join Wigan Warriors but is now headed down under

Kai Pearce-Paul has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of rugby league.

Born outside the heartlands of rugby league, he was catching the eye in the capital with London Broncos until Wigan made a move to bring him to the DW Stadium three years ago.

He would go on to debut for the Warriors against St Helens in 2020 but 2021 would be his break out season establishing himself in the first team at Wigan.

It was at the end of that season when rumours of a move to Newcastle Knights in the NRL began to circulate which have today come to fruition.

He was even better in 2022 helping the Warriors to Challenge Cup Final success and going on to make his test debut for England in the Rugby League World Cup against Greece where he starred alongside Newcastle Knights star Dom Young whom he will join in the NRL alongside Huddersfield Giants star Will Pryce.

Nonetheless, Pearce-Paul has had a terrific career at Wigan and there is one more season to go until he joins the Knights.

For the backrow / centre, it is vindication of a decision he made when he left London turning down the NRL to join Wigan as he said on Twitter as he bid farewell to Wigan: “I had a choice three years ago, to go to the NRL, to stay at London or to move to Wigan and I know I made the right choice by coming to Wigan.”

It comes as Kris Radlinski, Executive Director at Wigan, also reflected on the journey:

“Having paid a transfer fee to London Broncos three years ago, our coaches have developed a very raw talent into an international rugby league player.”