Why Warrington Wolves refused to sell Toby King to Huddersfield Giants

Toby King will be a Wigan Warriors player in 2023 after agreeing a 12-month deal with Matt Peet’s side for one season.

However, with the rangy centre currently on loan at the Huddersfield Giants, there were thoughts that Ian Watson would be lining up in 2023 with King in his side.

Unfortunately, despite Huddersfield’s best attempts to make the loan move from the Warrington Wolves permanent, Warrington were unwilling to make it a permanent deal.

King’s agent, Craig Harrison of Show Me The Money UK, has revealed why that was the case.

“He is enjoying Ian’s coaching and being back at home, but Huddersfield wanted the deal to be permanent but that didn’t work for Warrington to make it a permanent deal,” Harrison said on The Full Eighty Minutes podcast.

“I think Toby will be the less on the cap after this year so he would be very good value on the cap because he is homegrown.”

Warrington, therefore, clearly wanted King back for 2024 as he would cost less on the Wolves’ salary cap, ensuring Daryl Powell more bang for his buck.

With that in mind, the Cheshire club were willing to send the centre out on loan again for another year, but did not want to part with him on a permanent basis.

That has since left Watson looking for other options in the centre department with Kevin Naiqama already one of those making the move to the John Smith’s Stadium.

Samoan powerhouse centre Ricky Leutele, however, is set to leave the club but his destination is still unknown with the likes of Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Centurions being linked with a move.

In terms of Warrington signing Jake Wardle on a permanent deal from Huddersfield, that will not be possible with Watson previously declaring his intent to bring the Englishman back into the fold for 2023.