Don't think it's that mate.

It happened with mullaly when he left Widnes. Hudds had to pay compo. It's also happening with danny ings in football.

I'm sure I read that different rules apply to overseas contracts, though I could be very wrong

Wigg'n I would love to know your source on what Wigan offer budgie because I can assure you had he been offered 60k he would have gone no where. Don't talk about things you know nothing about. one man is responsible for him going at that is the tight that runs our club end of story, good night Vienna.

Cringey post.

We may not have offered him formally, he had already made his mind up about going to the NRL.

Think IL said that Burgess came into the office and said that he did not want a new contract no matter how much money was on the table as he wanted to try his hand in NRL the lifestyle suited him.

Correct.

As long as he plays till the end of the season like he has been doing these past few weeks then good luck to him at the Roosters.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the kid single, with no explicit ties to GB? If I were a fit bonny lad in his 20s (instead of an overweight grump with a dodgy knee) given the chance to live the high-life on a beach with wall-to-wall totty, I'm pretty sure I'd have made the same decision.
It's a shame we're loosing his tallent, but good luck to the lad. And it's not as if there aren't budding replacements knocking on the door to have a go.

To be at the top in any sport you have to back yourself.. Every credit to him. Very sad to be losing him, but, as said, i would be doing the same as him..

He's sensational. The lad has recovered from a difficult start when if anything he was probably trying too hard to impress, to really hit top form. He's a real rare find in terms of an English back because he's a huge lad but he's got blistering pace and is a supreme athlete.

Sad to lose him but give him a couple of years testing himself in the NRL and England could have one of the very best outside backs in its side. I'd love to see him back in a Wigan shirt one day but I'll also enjoy watching him represent the club and the town down under.

Aside from the fact he isn't the best winger in the league, his contract expired and he wanted to leave. He made it clear that offering him more money wouldn't change that. What were they meant to do? Put a gun to his head?

Who is the best winger then? Hall?

Was thinking similar

On current form Budgie would probably get my vote.

Charnley, Hall, Briscoe, Carney, Monaghan are all cracking players

Hall has been a beast for Leeds for many a year now and has always just pipped Charnley (IMO) for the best SL winger.

However, i would not swap Joe for any winger in the world right now.

I think he will go very very well in the NRL

Dont forget wbw mk2, makinson

He's the form winger for sure and I'd currently rank him number 2 behind Hall but he's got the potential to go past even Halls level. The one thing I would say about Hall is that his weekly round performances always seem to be a bit non fussed but the phrase 'big game player' was made for him and that's what sets him apart.

Hall and Burgess should be nailed on for the England wing spots against the Kiwi's currently but things change.