Warrington Wolves beat five Super League clubs to the signing of Wigan-Warriors bound star

When Wigan Warriors announced the signing of Warrington Wolves centre Toby King on loan for the 2023 Super League season, it took a lot of people by surprise.

King was already on loan at the Huddersfield Giants following Jake Wardle’s move the other way, so it was believed that Ian Watson’s side would perhaps be the most likely to tie him to a permanent deal.

However, that wasn’t forthcoming and King instead signed for Wigan on a 12-month loan deal.

Now, King’s agent – Craig Harrison of Show Me The Money UK – has revealed just how stiff competition had been for Super League clubs to try and sign his client.

“Wigan were happy, they wanted him before he signed another deal at Warrington last year,” Harrison told The Full Eighty Minutes podcast.

“There were five or six clubs in for him before he signed that deal and Wigan was one of them.

“The value of a centre is huge in our game because there aren’t enough to go about so Toby becomes even more valuable to a club like Wigan.

“Wigan made it clear that they would be interested in a deal and would love to to take him on loan for a year.”

Harrison went on to explain why it is the best deal for all concerned parties.

“Matt fancies the challenge of getting Toby to be the best centre in the competition.

“I spoke to Richard Thewlis (Huddersfield’s Managing Director) and he said because you want it permanent it’s not going to happen for him and he was brilliant about it.

“I think it is the best for everyone.”

Of course, with the Warriors losing Zak Hardaker earlier in the year to the Leeds Rhinos, it has left a gap for the Warriors to fill especially with Iain Thornley also on the sidelines for most of 2022.

Jake Bibby is also expected to leave the DW Stadium.