In a sliding doors moment, Wigan Warriors star Jai Field could so easily have ended up at Super League rivals Leeds Rhinos.
However, the competition’s man of the moment is delirious he's now in Cherry and White - and playing better than ever. Australian full-back Field, 24, is ripping teams to shreds with his pace, trickery and try-scoring exploits. Ahead of Good Friday’s sold-out derby at champions St Helens, he’s crossed 12 times in just nine games including two hat-tricks. It’s all a far cry from last year when his maiden season with Wigan was wrecked by serious injury.
And before that, he almost joined Leeds from St George Illawarra Dragons. Field recalled: “It was quite close. We’d pretty much agreed to the terms. I knew the Leeds boss Rich Agar from when he was at Dragons. He was trying to get me over and it was just down to some logistical things. They didn’t happen in time and that fell through so that’s how I ended up at Parramatta (in 2020).
“But I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason. Obviously, Leeds didn’t happen. But it opened up the opportunity to play for Parra’. That was one of my best decisions as I really developed there and I’m thankful for that. I’ve wound up at Wigan and I’m loving it here. It’s all fallen into place. It can be a funny game rugby league.”
Agar, of course, quit struggling Leeds last month with the fallen giants in dire straits. But Wigan are joint-top with leaders Saints who they also face in a Challenge Cup semi-final next month. Field has been electric and recently signed a new two-year deal. His second treble knocked Wakefield out of the Cup on Sunday and he admitted: “It’s probably the best form of my career. I’ve not played a lot of NRL and have played a lot in the halves.
“I played a lot of reserve grade at full-back but this is my first full pre-season to hone in on No1. At half, you’re set on one side but now I can pop up around where I need to be on both sides and I'm enjoying that freedom. But Saints are the benchmark and have been for the last few years. Now we get to test ourselves against the best. It’s a good opportunity to see where we’re at.”
