Sean O’Loughlin to stay at Wigan after Leeds look – and he believes he always will
Rhinos believed to have offered the England skipper more money to make the move but a deal for 2019 is sorted at hometown club
SEAN O’LOUGHLIN will be a Wigan player next season, even though Leeds are thought to have offered him more money.
And he believes he will finish a one-club man.
The England skipper was wanted by the Rhinos as they undergo a transformation under new coach David Furner.
But O’Loughlin insists he will still be a Warrior for 2019 – a 12-month deal is done, all he needs to do is sign it.
“I will be at Wigan next year,” 35-year-old O’Loughlin, who will also help with the academy, told SunSport. “It’s just that I’ve not officially signed anything because of being in the England camp.
“But it’s all sorted. With it being the back end of my career, I’m not signing two or three year deals, it’s just a season at a time.
“It’s always going to be this kind of position and you’ve got to listen to interest if it’s there – but I see myself finishing my career at Wigan.
“It’s always good to have interest but in the build-up to the Grand Final I put that stuff on the back burner.
“At the point of my career I’m not like a younger player wanting two or three years. If it gets to the end of the season and I’m feeling good and the club wants me to go around another year then I’ll do it.”
While O’Loughlin is set to play for England in his loose forward role, Sam Tomkins may be pressed into the halves from full-back after national boss Wayne Bennett admitted he is down the pecking order.
Ahead of Saturday’s first Test against New Zealand in Hull, which should also see Wigan’s John Bateman line up in the second row after previously playing at centre, the Aussie said: “He probably won’t play full-back as Jonny Lomax is number one choice.
“Sam’s a chance of playing. He’s a very talented player and went to the NRL to play for New Zealand Warriors, so we know what he can do.”
