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ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA prop Quentin Pongia has walked out on the NRL club to join English club Wigan less than a fortnight after making his Australian comeback.
The former New Zealand captain was named in the Dragons side to play South Sydney this weekend but will head to England instead to take up a short-term deal with the Super League club.
The former Raiders and Warriors enforcer, who turns 33 next month, is due to arrive in England early next week and could play against Castleford next Friday night, Wigan said.
The move was unexpected, given that Pongia made his Australian comeback on June 7 in a Premier League match for the Dragons after playing for French club Villeneuve.
The Dragons signed the ageing forward as cover for regular props Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey, but Wigan have now slotted him in to a similar role in a deal brokered by his manager, former New Zealand and Wigan coach Frank Endacott.
"Quentin is looking to finish his career in England and we were asked by Frank if Quentin could train and play with us for the remainder of the season," Wigan chief executive Maurice Lindsay said.
"It will put him in the shop window should he wish to try for a British club next year and will give us some forward cover for the remainder of the season."
The former New Zealand captain was named in the Dragons side to play South Sydney this weekend but will head to England instead to take up a short-term deal with the Super League club.
The former Raiders and Warriors enforcer, who turns 33 next month, is due to arrive in England early next week and could play against Castleford next Friday night, Wigan said.
The move was unexpected, given that Pongia made his Australian comeback on June 7 in a Premier League match for the Dragons after playing for French club Villeneuve.
The Dragons signed the ageing forward as cover for regular props Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey, but Wigan have now slotted him in to a similar role in a deal brokered by his manager, former New Zealand and Wigan coach Frank Endacott.
"Quentin is looking to finish his career in England and we were asked by Frank if Quentin could train and play with us for the remainder of the season," Wigan chief executive Maurice Lindsay said.
"It will put him in the shop window should he wish to try for a British club next year and will give us some forward cover for the remainder of the season."
