Warriors and Giants agree on transfer swap

Huddersfield Giants centre Jake Wardle completes his move to Wigan in a deal that see’s youngsters Sam Halsall and Jack Bibby going the opposite way.

Wardle’s signature was sort after this Autumn with the 23-year-old keen to move on from Huddersfield. The England international has seriously impressed on many levels having come through the Giants academy, making his senior debut in 2016.

He has scored 22 tries in 62 Super League appearances and spent the latter half of the 2022 campaign on loan at Warrington Wolves. Many thought that if he did not commit his future to the Giants then he would sign for the Wolves on a permanent deal.

However, this did not come to fruition, with Wigan swooping in and offering a three-year deal that Wardle said he could not turn down. Warrington will surely be gritting their teeth after they have let the extremely talented centre slip through their fingers.

Wigan can now boast one of the best centre partnerships in the country having also signed Toby King from the Wolves, leaving them with a very talented back line.

Wardle will now either have the prolific Liam Marshall on his wing, or last season’s top try scorer Bevan French, not a bad pair to have at your disposal.

When asked about the move Wardle replied:

“I want to take the opportunity with both hands. One of the main reasons for coming here was Matty Peet, who has known me since I was 16.

“The club speaks for itself, I want to bring some more success to the club and win trophies.”

Wigan’s head coach Matty Peet added:

“We have high expectations for Jake and look forward to welcoming him and his family into our club.”

Included in the transfer was Sam Halsall and Jack Bibby, who make the switch to Huddersfield also on three-year deals.

Both the young guns progressed through the Warriors academy; however, it will be Halsall who is currently exiting the Giants fans the most having been a fairly important player for the Warriors in 2022.

Halsall made 17 first team appearances for Wigan in his senior career, scoring eight tries. Nevertheless, prop forward Bibby is also showing a lot of promise but has only made just the one senior appearance for Wigan, which did reward him with a try.

Giants head coach Ian Watson said:

“Both Sam and Jack are two very good additions to our 2023 squad.”

Both clubs will be happy with what they got out of this deal with Wardle the more experienced player, wanting out of his former club. However, only in 2023 will we see the outcomes of the respective transfers, and how each player gets on.

 

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