The clubs who could be interested in signing Wigan Warriors star

For a long time, Wigan Warriors star Jake Wardle was seen as a great prospect but eventually a great prospect has to deliver and for a while it seemed like perhaps he wouldn’t quite reach the level many expected from him.

That has dramatically changed however. The 2022 season was perhaps a tipping point for Wardle. The centre was part of a Huddersfield Giants squad pushing at the top and was even named in the England squad for the win over the Combined Nations.

But remarkably, he would be swapped for Toby King mid-season in a loan move to Warrington Wolves. Ian Watson wanted to make the swap permanent but the Wolves wanted to simply extend the loan. Shockingly, this culminated in both ending up at Wigan in 2023.

Being with the Wigan Warriors seemed to bring the best out of them both. Fortunately for Wigan, in a move that saw them lose two youngsters to Huddersfield Giants including Sam Halsall, they signed Wardle to a three year deal ahead of last season but King was only on loan and is now back at Warrington with the Warriors snapping up another brilliant centre in the shape of Adam Keighran.

NRL clubs interested in Wigan Warriors star

Wardle has been terrific since joining the Wigan Warriors. In fact, in the second half of the season he was scoring tries for fun week in week out.

He scored the try, which was controversial in the eyes of Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont, that won Wigan the League Leaders’ Shield and he was excellent in the Grand Final as he won the Harry Sunderland Award as Man of the Match after a crucial involvement in the decisive try for Liam Marshall.

Then in the World Club Club Challenge, he again scored the winning try which again was controversial in the eyes of many especially those down under.

However, his quality may be a double edged sword with NRL clubs now reportedly interested in poaching the centre from the Wigan Warriors despite the fact his contract is still good until the end of 2025.

But which clubs could be interested in Wardle? Ironically, one of the teams who could be interested may be the side he downed in the World Club Challenge.

Penrith Panthers have lost a lot of good backs in recent years and the future of Taylan May is in doubt. Wardle would be a terrific signing for the NRL champions.

The team they defeated in the Grand Final could also have an interest after the recent departure of fellow England centre Herbie Farnworth.

Clubs like Canberra Raiders, St George Illawarra Dragons and Canterbury Bulldogs have all been in the market and you cannot rule out the Dolphins given the Super League connection with Kristian Woolf.