Super League star seemingly set for huge transfer

Wigan Warriors have made some major signings like signing former Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants star Kruise Leeming, Leeds prop Sam Walters and drafting in Salford Red Devils star Tyler Dupree immediately.

The Warriors have also snapped up Catalans Dragons duo Tiaki Chan and Adam Keighran with the latter set to replace Toby King who is expected to return to Warrington Wolves after his loan spell.

Wigan have also tied down a number of star players such as Brad O’Neill. This means Wigan have two nines for next year suggesting Sam Powell and Cade Cust could be headed to pastures new and there have been reports of interest in both players.

Powell’s availability was seemingly confirmed by Huddersfield Giants boss Ian Watson but he denied interest in completing the signing at this stage.

He said: “He’s a great player mate, we’ve got nines in place at this moment in time, but when good English players become available, obviously you do have an interest in them, but obviously it’s whether you can fit them into your squad and that.

“Sam Powell is a good player and a big player and again he’s a champion player as well and he’s somebody who’s a very good leader and holds people accountable, so I think there’ll be a lot of teams that would be interested in but at the moment we’re kind of we’re pretty set where we are.

“Something would have to materialize for us probably to be able to jump into that but he’s somebody that would obviously be an interest just because of the stature of who he is.”

So it remains to be seen where he will end up.

Huddersfield showed that they didn’t need a nine with Adam Milner playing 80 minutes in a win over Leeds at the weekend.

The Rhinos started quickly with a superb break down the left as Harry Newman and Ash Handley combined. With Newman taken late Leeds were given a penalty but the centre was taken off for a Head Injury Assessment.

The Giants’ early cover defence should be commended and it ensured that the Giants got the first try via Sam Halsall.

After the ball was kept alive in the middle of the field, the ball was shifted wide and the young winger finished in the corner.

Sadly the game was then stopped for 15 minutes after James Bentley chased a high Aidan Sezer kick only to collide with the knee of an airborne Jake Connor.

Bentley was stretchered off and placed in an ambulance after a 15 minute delay on the field.

After which Leeds conceded a somewhat controversial try with Kevin Naiqama capitalising on an error.

It would be a similar story for their third try as they took a 16-0 lead with Tui Lolohea grounding a kick Ash Handley was unable to deal with.

The Giants thought they had reached the 20 point mark when a great play caught out Newman and Handley with Esan Marsters trying to squeeze in at the corner but Leeds scrambled well.

Leeds needed to score next and had a decent chance after Aidan Sezer drilled the ball behind the Giants defence and Handley forced a penalty.

Then a lovely inside ball from Walters saw Luke Hooley make it two tries in two games.

Huddersfield again looked set to score in the corner but again Leeds scrambled well to deny the try and an incident broke out leading to a yellow card for Sam Hewitt seconds after coming on.

Without him, Sam Hewitt was able to tear through the Giants defence and find Handley in the corner to score and make it 16-12.

Leeds thought they were going to score again as Cameron Smith tore through the middle and found Sam Lisone in support. Lisone looked to wrong foot Sam Halsall and caught him with an elbow.

After that, Jake Connor kicked a brilliant 40/20 and from there the Giants earned a penalty and extended their lead to 18-12.

The Giants twice thought they scored in the same set in the second half as they looked to wrap up the win but were denied by official Marcus Griffiths.

The Giants though did get the extra point they needed with a Jake Connor drop goal four minutes from time to make it 19-12.

Will Pryce then notched a penalty to make it 21-12.