Jack Hughes & Larne Patrick swap clubs
Larne Patrick and Jack Hughes have swapped clubs in a season-long loan deal, agreed between Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants.
Partick, a utility forward, and Hughes, a back rower, will now look to develop their careers at new clubs in 2015.
Giants managing director Richard Thewlis is delighted that the unusual deal has been completed.
“Jack Hughes is a player that our coaches have admired and see an awful lot of potential in for some time,” he said.
“When Wigan made their desire to sign Larne known we had similarly expressed an interest in Jack so it was really down to the players themselves to decide if a move was in their interests.
“They each spoke to their respective coaches and both fancied a change for 2015.
“From our point of view Paul Anderson was looking for a some fresh impetus in the pack with some strike and desire to win big games and clearly Jack wanted more game time than he was looking like getting being behind the current England backrow (Tomkins, Farrell, O Loughlin), and he sees a great opportunity here.
“We look forward to seeing him in the claret and gold for the duration of the 2015 season and of course wish Larne well with his year in cherry and white.
“He has been very good for us in his six years here and a year in another quality environment can only benefit him.”
Hughes, 22, has made 75 appearances for Wigan, his hometown club. He is relishing the chance to play more regular rugby in West Yorkshire.
“For my game to develop I need to be playing more regularly in a good team, and whilst I wasn’t looking for a move away from Wigan this deal works really well,” he said.
“The Giants play a similar style to Wigan and have a great coach, so hopefully I can go there and add something to their pack next season.”
Patrick, 26, is a Blackpool-born Welsh international who came through the Bradford Bulls academy. He has also spent time in Australia with the Narrabean Sharks.
He returned from Down Under in 2009, and has made 136 appearances for the Giants since then.
“I am delighted to join Wigan,” he said.
“This is an exciting new challenge and one I am relishing. I have had a great time at Huddersfield and would sincerely like to thank Balloo (coach Paul Anderson) for the way he has helped me.
“I am hopeful that my development continues apace under Shaun Wane, another great British Coach and someone I am excited to be working with.”
Wigan coach Shaun Wane is looking forward to working with the Warriors’ new player.
“Larne Patrick is a player I have admired for a long time,” he said.
“He has always challenged us when we’ve faced the Giants and I am looking forward to him making an impact in the cherry and white shirt.
“He is tough with a great work ethic, but he also has good footwork and speed and will add more experience to our front row next year.
“He is also my kind of person, a real good guy off the field, and will fit in really well with our group.”
Wane also wished Hughes well for his move to the Giants.
“I have a lot of time for Jack and am really proud to see how his career has developed as he has come through our systems and into the first team,” he said.
“We will monitor Jack throughout the year and I hope to see him thrive with more regular action so that he can come back to Wigan as an even better player.”