Wigan Warriors linked with another Catalans Dragons star for 2024 as recruitment drive heats up
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.
Following the addition of Tiaki Chan for 2024, Wigan have further set their sights on Catalans star utility Adam Keighran according to reports in France.
L’independant say that the Warriors are interested in the 26-year-old for 2024, having signed young forward Chan on a three-year deal from next season.
Chan, 23, has made 10 appearances for the Dragons since making his debut last year.
Former New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters player Keighran joined the French outfit ahead of the 2023 Super League campaign on a one-year deal and has impressed in his debut year.
He has made 14 Super League appearances to date, featuring in both the centres and in the halves following injuries within Steve McNamara’s squad.
A goal-kicker with 36 so far this year, Keighran has also scored five tries and produced a further eight assists as Catalans sit at the top of the Super League table four points clear of Warrington.
Wigan have expressed a ‘strong interest’ in the out-of-contract utility according to the reports, having linked Leeds with off-contract France international Mickael Goudemand.
Matt Peet’s Wigan also confirmed the signings of highly-rated forward Sam Walters from Leeds ahead of 2024 on a three-year deal, as well as hooker Kruise Leeming from the Gold Coast Titans on a deal until the end of 2027.
Catalans prepare for departures
Catalans Dragons are expected to see a handful of departures at the conclusion of the current campaign, including ex-NRL playmaker Mitchell Pearce.
The veteran has been linked with a return Down Under with former club Sydney Roosters, having joined Catalans on a two-year deal ahead of 2022.
Born in Sydney, Pearce made his NRL debut with the Roosters back in 2007 and went on to make 238 appearances for the club.
Pearce has once already shut down rumours for an immediate return to the NRL, having been linked with the struggling Wests Tigers earlier this year.
Boss McNamara has confirmed that Matt Whitley is expected to return to England in 2024, having made the move to Perpignan from Widnes in 2019.
He has made 90 appearances for the club to date and has been linked with Paul Wellens’ St Helens next year.
France international and Catalans forward Goudemand has also been linked with a move to Leeds by L’independant for 2024 after rejecting a contract extension with the club.
The 27-year-old is off contract at the end of the year, having signed his first professional deal with the club in 2018.
He has made 87 Super League appearances to date.
Tyrone May has been linked with a return to the NRL with Canterbury Bulldogs, while ex-England captain Sam Tomkins is set to hang up the boots at the end of the year.
35-year-old starting number nine Michael McIlorum is also in the last year of his contract.
Catalans meanwhile have confirmed the signing of Chris Satae from Hull on a two-year deal from the 2024 season.
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