Barrett vows to join Wigan even if they are relegated

The Australian stand-off Trent Barrett is joining Wigan on a three-year contract but will not, as the club would like, be able to help them out of their current plight. However, the 28-year-old St George Illawarra player says he will arrive next year, even if Wigan are relegated from Super League.

"He would improve any team in the world but we already have three players on our overseas quota so it can't happen," said the Wigan chairman, Maurice Lindsay.

Lindsay declined to say whether Barrett's contract is conditional on the club surviving in Super League but Barrett said yesterday that he intends to come to play for the club even if the unthinkable happens.

Wigan coach Brian Noble has at least two players back for tonight's game against Castleford. Scott Logan is back after recovering from a fractured cheekbone and Mark Calderwood is available again.