Wigan Cast Around As Barrett Seeks a Way Out

Wigan appear increasingly likely to lose Trent Barrett at the end of the season after his agent, Wayne Beavis, confirmed for the first time that the Australian stand-off is set to request a release from the third year of his contract. However, the Warriors may be able to soften the blow by nipping in ahead of Hull to sign Michael Dobson, the Canberra scrum-half who played a big role in saving them from relegation in 2006.

Barrett's pregnant wife is homesick and Beavis told the Sydney Morning Herald: "It's for family reasons that Trent might be looking at coming home. I've spoken to the Wigan management and told them Trent has got a family issue and he was planning to come to them to discuss it."

Wigan's chairman, Ian Lenagan, refused to discuss Barrett's future yesterday, which seemed significant in itself. He also issued a flat "no comment" about the possibility of signing Dobson as a replacement, but the 21-year-old remains highly popular with the club's supporters after his performances two years ago when he joined Wigan after a stint filling in for Stacey Jones with the Catalans Dragons.

Hull have been chasing Dobson since losing their half-back Richard Horne with a neck injury this month, and their chairman, Kath Hetherington, spoke to his agent in Australia last week. He remains a fringe player at Canberra and needs to come to England sooner rather than later if he is to qualify for a work permit next year. Wigan would not currently be able to fit him either on their overseas quota or under their salary cap, raising the possibility that they could sign him now, then release him to play for Hull for the rest of this season.

Hull have released their prop Matty Dale to join Wakefield on a one-month loan, and one signing for 2009 has already gone through, with St Helens confirming that the former New Zealand international Tony Puletua, 28, will join them on a three-year contract. "I think it will give him a new lease of life," said the St Helens chairman, Eamonn McManus. "He's extremely athletic with good ball-handling skills, just what our pack needs."