Jai Field is adamant he doesn’t want to return to the NRL in the near future as he sets his sights on finding more fame in a Wigan Warriors jersey.
The Australian full-back has established himself as a key member of the Warriors team that has beaten everyone in recent seasons after moving to the Betfred Super League ahead of the 2021 season.
Field has since signed two contract extensions with Wigan, the most recent until the end of the 2027 season, and he is enjoying being part of a team that currently has every trophies available.
“I’m very content at the moment,” Field said. bench podcast. “For the players they have signed, it’s an exciting time to be at the club.
“At the moment, I would say I’m really content here and I’m probably not looking forward to going back home as much as I used to when you first come here.
“Since I’ve been here I’ve signed two deals and that says a lot for the club and how settled I am here.”
Field made a try-scoring return for Wigan in their 28-14 win over Huddersfield Giants last Thursday and is back in the 21-player squad for the rescheduled visit of Leigh Leopards in the ‘Battle of the Boroughs’, live on Sky Sports On Tuesday night.
The 26-year-old decided to move to the Warriors after making just six first-grade appearances for the Parramatta Eels in 2020, having made only 11 appearances for former club St George Illawarra Dragons between 2017 and 2019.
Both Field and teammate Bevan French have followed former Wigan players Blake Green and Jackson Hastings, who also performed well for the Salford Red Devils, and have moved from Australia to the Super League to further their careers.
He believes it’s a route that is proving more and more attractive to NRL players who might find their opportunities in first-grade limited by more established members of the team.
“It’s becoming very common now, particularly for spine players, because some of the best half-backs and full-backs are now playing into their 30s and 35s,” Field said.
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Speaking to Jenna and John on The Bench, Jai Field revealed how he is working on his recovery from the hamstring injury which kept him out of playing for Wigan Warriors.
“You can be a young player who has all the potential but you just get stuck behind players and that’s what you need to happen at that club to move forward.
“People are starting to see that now, and Super League clubs are pulling players out of the systems who are still hungry, because that’s the aspiration, that you want to go back to.
“It obviously hasn’t happened yet, but I’ve landed on my feet at a great club and a great team.”
Since joining Wigan, Field has been part of two Challenge Cup victories, last year’s Super League Grand Final win and this year’s World Club Challenge victory over the Penrith Panthers.
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Highlights from the Betfred Super League clash between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants.
He is one of a number of key players to have committed their future to the club, the latest being winger Liam Marshall, who signed a four-year extension last week.
“It’s an exciting time and others at the club are noticing it as well,” Field said.
“Bevan has locked himself in, I’m here, [Jake] Wardle has signed, so these players make you weigh everything up: do you want to leave him and be part of something special, and potentially go back to the first NRL that comes your way?
“You might not even get selected again, you’ll keep moving in and out of reserve grade, whereas if you stay here you have a chance to do something great.”
Watch Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards face off in the ‘Battle of the Boroughs’ at the Brick Community Stadium on Tuesday at 7.55pm live on Sky Sports Action (kick-off is 8pm). Also stream on NOW.
