Wigan remain tight-lipped on Christian Wade's future

Former England flyer Christian Wade appears poised to end his brief spell in Super League with Wigan Warriors and return to PREM Rugby by signing for the freshly cashed-up Newcastle Red Bulls.

RugbyPass first reported Newcastle’s interest in the former Wasps, Racing 92, and Gloucester flyer on Saturday, and now the Daily Telegraph has confirmed that a deal is likely.

Wade has scored two tries in two appearances for the reigning Super League champions, but hasn’t played in the last month following a defeat to Hull when he was criticised for dropping three high kicks, which proved costly.

His mistakes directly led to two tries as the Warriors suffered a third defeat in five games, and a source close to the club has suggested he is too expensive for them to retain.

The 34-year-old, who was once part of the Buffalo Bills’ training squad, doesn’t count against the Warriors’ salary cap this season under the Super League’s talent pool dispensation, which will increase to 50 per cent next season.

Warriors boss Matthew Peet has all but confirmed Wade’s potential exit with a ham-fisted response to our story that he could be too expensive for his club to keep.

“I don’t think it’s my place to comment. I know the crack and know what’s going on. But I just think we owe it to Christian to let him make an announcement when the time is right for him. I’ll repeat what I said, he’s been a great addition to the club.”

Peet told the media after the Warriors’ 44-2 win over Wakefield Trinity on Sunday afternoon. Wade, the second-highest try scorer in Premiership history with 93 tries – eight behind Chris Ashton – could be joined at Kingston Park by Waratahs and Wallabies winger Darby Lancaster.

Lancaster, 22, joined the Waratahs ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season after the Melbourne Rebels disbanded, scoring four tries in eight matches, though he was only under contract until the end of the year.