Graham set for debut as Wigan deny interest in signing Gasnier

Wigan have welcomed their new Australian signing, Nick Graham, to the club in time to make his debut against Bradford on Friday night, but have denied that Mark Gasnier will be their next overseas recruit.

Wigan avoided the problems that have delayed Hull's signing from Cronulla, Dean Treister, by re-routing Graham through Kuala Lumpur, rather than SARS-affected Hong Kong or Singapore, and he flew in yesterday.

Maurice Lindsay, the club's chairman, signed Graham as an emergency reinforcement after a tip-off from the former Wigan coach, John Monie. However, Lindsay says that Gasnier, the St George-Illawarra centre, who toured with Australia two years ago but has failed to make New South Wales' 32-man squad for this year's State of Origin series, is not his next target.

All Wigan's overseas players reach the ends of their contracts after this season, but the club may not be ready to lose the experience of players like Craig Smith and Adrian Lam.

Hull are having trouble booking Treister on a flight, because of cancellations caused by the SARS virus, and are not certain that he will arrive in time to make his debut in their next game, at Castleford on Monday. The Cas scrum-half Mitch Healey, who has been out since February with a hamstring injury, should be fit to return.