If Sale people are saying this then it does appear that he will be a Wigan player in the near future. He could well have a couple of weeks break from leaving Sale as Thornley did. No doubt can we afford him under the SC by using Hock's salary which we could deduce is being paid by Widnes.
If he is to play prop then that suggests that one or more props may leave at the end of the season. Mossop has the NRL clause in his contract so it may be him, also Lauaki hasn't been on the field yet and there's no mention of him returning.
Powell is one big man and no one doubts he is a bit of a rough house. With all these younger guys in the forwards perhaps Shaun Wane sees him as their protector or broader still the pack enforcer.
From what has been said he could be a good asset although I suspect he will be used sparingly this season and then get the full benefit after a full off season.
Then there is the Welsh aspect of it all which means Wigan will get full value with his on and field work.
Interesting signing.

seriously? why? what've red hall got to do with it?

It was mentioned on SL fulltime that there is a transfer deadline in May.

If they are involved in paying some or all of Andy's contract they must have introduced new laws.

He was a good player at Leeds (assuming its the same one), and for Wales, and this would've definately been a great signing 2 or 3 years ago. I haven't seen him play much in recent seasons so I don't now what his forms like.

The RFL won't be funding it but someone did mention to me the other day about Union converts not counting on the cap ? They may of course be incorrect.

Excellent fishing sir!

I wouldn't dismiss this notion too quickly. It's been mooted several times.

I can understand a marquee player system allowing this but it seems unfeasible and wrong for specific Union signings to be exempt and not others.

I thought Tomkins resigned as Wigan's 'marqee' player?

It certainly was

Excited by how he goes; i always liked his style of play at union and thought he'd go well at league, just have to hope his knees arent shot.

Also he'll have to get used to having a cold back now, without all those flat blokes falling ontop of him..

Sorry, but I don't like to nit pick, but I think you mean "re-signed". "resigned" has a different meaning.

unless there's some bizzare international rule kicking in, with him being a taffy 'n' all

I'd agree, but I'd imagine that a time-served international who many observers on both sides of the fence reckon could make the switch well would be classified as a marquee player.