Jackson Hastings agrees Wigan move – beating Leeds in the race
Rhinos made a big play for the Australia-born star but the Warriors are believed to have sealed a two-year deal
JACKSON Hastings will be a Wigan player next season after the Warriors beat Leeds to his signature.
The Rhinos were so keen on the Salford star, they were willing to pay a fee and offer them players to take him now and are believed to have given him a tour of their facilities.
But claims the imposition of a deadline - which Leeds deny setting - did not sit right with the 23-year-old scrum half are thought to be central to his decision.
Hastings is now believed to have signed a two-year deal - with a clause inserted allowing him to leave for the NRL at the end of next season - with the Warriors worth in the region of £250,000-a-year.
Leeds also wanted Hastings to sign a two-year contract after the Australia-born ace was advised by family members to stay in England.
The likelihood Adrian Lam, who worked with Hastings in the junior ranks at NRL side Sydney Roosters, looks set to stay as coach is also a big factor.
A Wigan move at the end of the season would also see Salford miss out on a pay day as sources told SunSport the Red Devils wanted as much as £400,000.
Hastings is eligible to be picked for either Great Britain’s Autumn tour or England’s squad for the inaugural Rugby League World Cup Nines as his grandmother was born in Plymouth.
Meanwhile, Salford are set to bring in veteran Harrison Hansen on loan for the rest of the season, with Adam Lawton heading in the opposite direction.
The Red Devils are also thought to have tied up Wakefield's Pauli Pauli on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell, while centre Junior Sa'u is being lined up by Leigh after considering a switch to rugby union.
