Wednesday 28 January 2015 11:29, UK
Sky Sports News HQ's Fraser Dainton meets Joe Burgess, who has sealed a move to Sydney Roosters from Wigan Warriors...
At the tender age of just 20, Joe Burgess has the Rugby League world at his feet.
After firmly establishing himself in the Wigan team last season, “Budgie” went on to score 25 tries in 27 games, including one in the World Club Challenge against Sydney. The Roosters took notice, and now Burgess is the latest player to decide to make the switch to the NRL, once his contract with Wigan is up, at the end of the 2015 season.
He admits the approach came as a shock. “I couldn’t believe it. I was just buzzing to be staying in the Wigan team - but when I heard about this, I was over the moon," he said.
"When it came to making the decision, I asked around a few players, they said they’ve always wanted to do it, but they’ve got families and it’s held them back. Because I’ve got none of that, I think it’s a good time to go on.”
Born and bred in Wigan, and having gone through their Academy since the age of 16, all he ever dreamed of was pulling on the famous cherry and white jersey. Making the decision to leave was a huge wrench - explaining it to all concerned was even worse.
“Being a fan, when I was younger, I just thought I would play for Wigan, and that was it," he said.
"When this came about, I had to tell my mum, my dad and my friends. Then I had to go round to (Wigan head coach) Shaun Wane’s house, and tell him face to face - I think that was the most nervous I’ve been all year!
"But I’m glad it all got smoothed over, there were no fall-outs, and that was all I wanted. Hopefully it also gives me the chance to maybe come back one day.”
It’s a measure of the young man’s confidence and sense of adventure that he’s making the move to the other side of the world without anyone holding his hand.
“It’s going to be a great experience doing it, and I’m going on my own. It’s a completely different game over there," he said. "When I was younger I thought I’d just play for Wigan, but when you get older and see the game over there, it’s a great attraction.”
For now, Wigan fans can enjoy Burgess for one more season, and given that it’s his last with the Warriors for the foreseeable future, he’s even more determined to make sure he leaves on a high.
“It will be good for me. It might work - it might not - but I won’t know until I try it. So I’m going to go over there and do the best I can, and hopefully come back a better player. For now I’m putting all my focus on Wigan - I’m not even going to think about Sydney Roosters one bit, so I’m going to be driven a lot. It’s my last year, and it’s going to drive towards winning as many trophies as I can.”
