Wigan sign South Sydney starlet Gabriel Hamlin

Wigan Warriors have signed highly-rated youngster Gabriel Hamlin from South Sydney Rabbitohs on a two-year deal.

The prop or loose forward joins the Warriors until the end of the 2019 season and will arrive in the UK when pre-seasons beings in November.

Hamlin, 20, has played a key role in the Rabbitohs’ Under-20s outfit in the last couple of years, making 47 appearances for the club.

He was recommended to Wigan’s rugby director Kris Radlinski and head coach Shaun Wane by ex-Warriors boss Michael Maguire and club legend Pat Richards.

And Wane is pleased to have the deal for the New South Wales Under-18s representative over the line.

He said: “We are always on the lookout for talented players that have a good attitude and a real determination to improve.

“Developing players is a part of coaching that I really enjoy and at Wigan we have a great record of bringing in players and taking them onto the next level.

“When people like Michael Maguire and Pat Richards are both recommending a player to you then you take that recommendation very seriously and we all believe that Gabriel is a talented forward who can really fulfil his potential here at Wigan.

“We can’t wait to have him join us.”

Hamlin could return to Australia next season though, with the Warriors set to face his former club South Sydney Rabbitohs at the ANZ Stadium in an International Double Header on Saturday 17 February, 2018.