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Mark Bazeley
New Wigan recruit Jake Wardle can put months of uncertainty behind him after signing a three-year contract with the club; The Betfred Super League season 2023 kicks-off in February live on Sky Sports
Last updated: 31/12/22 11:23
Jake Wardle has joined Wigan on a three-year deal
Back in May, Jake Wardle was a spectator as Huddersfield Giants suffered a heartbreaking final defeat to Wigan Warriors in the Betfred Challenge Cup final.
A rollercoaster seven months later, however, the middle finds himself preparing to wear the Cherry and White shirt of the Cup holders and semi-finalists of the Betfred Super League play-offs this year for the 2023 campaign.
Ankle injuries and the form of Ricky Leutele and Leroy Cudjoe saw Wardle restricted to just six appearances for the Giants in 2022, including not making the 17th appearance for the club’s first Challenge Cup final appearance in 12 years. The signings of Kevin Naiqama and Esan Marsters for next year underlined their position in the pecking order as well.
Wardle was then loaned out to Warrington Wolves in July for the rest of the Super League season, but the uncertainty the 24-year-old had over his future was lifted when Wigan swooped in for him.
“Last year when I was on loan, my future was a bit longer,” said Wardle, who was confirmed to have signed a three-year deal with the Warriors in October. Sky Sports.
“Finally getting a three-year deal on the line is massive for me. It wraps everything up and I can look forward to playing rugby again next year.
“It’s unbelievable. The club speaks for itself with the success it has had, so they want me as a player and as a person, it’s something I’m very grateful for.”
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Jake Wardle capitalized on a mistake from Arthur Romano to give Warrington Wolves the Catalan Dragons lead at the 2022 Magic Weekend
In a strange twist, Wardle will form a central partnership at Wigan in 2023 with Toby King – the man Huddersfield brought in from Warrington in the final months of last season as part of a loan swap deal.
As you can read like the squad numbers, the fact that the duo have been assigned numbers 3 and 4 for the upcoming season would indicate that they are the first choice combination of Warriors head coach Matt Peet at three quarters, with experienced Iain Thornley also selected, and the second line duo Kai Pearce-Paul and Willie Isa can slot into the middle if needed.
For his part, Wardle has lived through the paces of Peet’s regime and has found some of his preconceived notions about how Wigan’s team have acquitted themselves of fighting them in the past have been proven correct.
“Every club and every team wants to build a culture, but I think since I’ve been here it’s gone up another level,” Wardle said.
The club speaks for itself with success, so they want me as a player and as a person, I am very grateful.
Jake Wardle comes on for Wigan
“It’s all about the culture and I look forward to being a part of it.
“You can just see the togetherness of the squad when they play and to go back to the Challenge Cup final, to win at the end shows the togetherness they have as a group and the belief they have in each other.”
Seeing the Challenge Cup in the trophy cabinet at the DW Stadium and when it was brought to schools in the area as part of the ‘Warriors Together’ community program in December was extra motivation for Wardle to be part of the trophy winning team. .
Wigan are desperate to retain the Cup in 2023 as it would be a record 21st victory in rugby league’s most prestigious knockout competition, as well as destroying their previous Super League rivals St Helens. four seasons.
Wigan won against Huddersfield in the 2022 Challenge Cup final
Wardle believes the ability he has seen in the squad, including last season’s top goalscorer Bevan French and Man of Steel nominee Jai Field, will ensure the Warriors fight for the honor again in 2023.
“My goal is to win [the Cup] again this year and we can do it,” Wardle said.
“The culture we have and the squad we have, I want to be a part of that and do what we can and bring the best to the team.
“That’s my goal for the three years I’ve been here – I want to win as many silverware as I can. We’ve got the squad to do that, so hopefully we can get more silverware this year.”
The 2023 Betfred Super League season kicks off in February with two matches from Round 1 live on Sky Sports. Grand Final runners-up Leeds Rhinos travel to Warrington Wolves on Thursday 16 February, followed by promoted Leigh Leopards hosting Salford Red Devils on Saturday 17 February.
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