I’ve seen nothing from Hastings himself about leaving,the only thing I’ve seen from his social media is the new house,the new pup,not the things I’d be buying if I was jetting off to warmer climes

It’s a shame as he had the potential to be a top winger. Maybe a change of surroundings will help reignite his career. One thing for sure is that the Joe Burgess that went to Australia wasn’t the same one that came back, sad really.

Yes fingers crossed it will kickstart him again and who knows we could see him back for a 3rd spell.

Big well done to IFL and Rads for making this happen. another example of our owner stumping up big money of his own to bring the very best players available to the club. Wont suit all the Lenagan bashers i am sure but just remember as you gaze across town the grass is not always greener. Thank you IFL.

Signed the best Second Rower in the world, whose a natural leader, on a 4 year deal.

Made up, we’re the envy of super league today.

Not for me. I’m happy to see him go off and do well elsewhere but his time has come to an end with Wigan. As hatty said, the JB that went to Australia isn’t the one that returned. I can’t help but feel he came back already angling for a move back and was so concentrated on that that his mind just wasn’t on Wigan.

It’s sad but it’s given rise to Marshall whom despite my early thoughts, is proving to be a far better winger.

Burgess scored 26 tries in 26 appearances in 2017 on his return from Australia
In 2018 he had score 8 tries in 9 games until that injury on the famous plastic pitch at Widnes.

Those are superb stats for any winger.

He came back in great form as you say before the injury. His stats aren't that bad now I don't think he's just come back when Marshall is flying and Dom is getting back to his old self.

Sorry. Was on the Wigan warriors official Facebook page

By your reckoning ade gardener was an AAA winger. The reason Wigan want rid of burgess is because he is utterly woeful in defense and you can’t have a liability like that on your team if you want to be a top team. Salford is about his level and Wigan could do much better

Important to remember this.

It's probably the right call to let him go because I expect he earns a fair whack and that (for now) he doesn't have the same freakish pace and power that he did prior to injuries. Even so, I think that we forget that 1) before going to the NRL Burgess made mistakes aplenty, it just so happens that they were offset by what he offered as a try scorer, and more importantly that 2) he still showed some wonderful form when he came back.

I think ever since he said that at some point he would like to chance his arm in Australia again, a narrative has built that his indifferent form is that he doesn't want to be here/has a poor attitude, and I think you're right that one injury too many is more likely to blame. If he goes to Salford I hope he gets back to his best.

Imagine if he could be d, he’d be a really excellent winger wouldn’t he!

Fantastic news. Absolutely delighted.

Bateman wanted to test himself when he left Wigan. He achieved that.
JH - for me - was always using Wigan as a stepping stone back to Aus.

I’m delighted if we swap the two.
Even if JH stays, the ‘will he, won’t he’ will surround him every year and quite frankly I can’t be bothered with that.

Its forums like this that create the will he wont he problem. Hastings is a Wigan player but half the people have come to the conclusion that he will be leaving, but too be fair they are probably the same ones who said he was going to stay at Salford?

Would your two marquee spots be Bateman and Hastings or is Burgess a marquee too? Can’t see why you won’t move everything possible to keep Hastings brilliant player.

Hastings has said he’s not on marquee money (maybe that was the issue he wasn’t happy with in pre season) but if that’s the truth who knows?! George Burgess definitely is and he’ll need to step things up on the return and prove he warrants that.

Hastings is a tricky one. He’s a great player and I’m sure he’ll give us everything this year but there’s so much speculation around him and you sense he wants to head home.

What a load of nonsense.

Don't shoot the messenger but I got told before the season started that Hastings DID kick up a fuss and it was about money. He found out how much Sezer was earning at Huddersfield and wanted more. Might be rubbish might not

Well I'm thrilled too; who wouldn't be? As said upthread, we will be the envy of SL and rightly so. As for Hastings, I thought it was an interesting point made by someone, here I think, who remarked that maybe Hastings was more suited to SL, and George Williams more suited to the NRL.

Hastings isn’t a marquee player. He’s on a decent wedge but he’s not marquee so if we can offload some deadwood/ Lockers/Tommy retiring then there’s no reason why we can’t see Hastings here next year but it’s up to him. Hopefully this could have swayed him towards staying another year

Great news, going to be a few nervous moments though when he gets back on the field regards his shoulder, let's hope this second op has fixed it.

Bateman is world class. Since when did a club turn away a world class player? Wigan might have some decent back row forwards but if you can sign one who is better than those you have, why would you not?

I was right about Bateman coming back.Hastings is going home at the end of the season

John Davidson saying Wigan have got bateman on a bargain salary, less than he was on a Canberra.

Might not be marquee money. As someone has said we normally mention in the press release if someone’s signed a marquee contract.

The fact we got £200k for him and he’s back after 2 years. One in which he’s got his shoulder fixed.

If his shoulder is fine this is genius from IL.

That's incredible if so. Hats off to IL and Rads.

Still disappointed with them extending Clubb's contract but all of our other business recently has been top drawer (G. Burgess still TBD).