Wigan weigh up Jenkins to fill Botica's boots

RUGBY LEAGUE: Wigan have admitted to watching the Welsh stand-off, Neil Jenkins, but say that he is only one of a number of players under scrutiny as a possible successor to Frano Botica.

"I rate him very highly," the Wigan chairman, Jack Robinson, said. "But he is only one of many players we are looking at."

The situation is complicated by suggestions that Botica, indisputably the game's leading goal-kicker, might return to Wigan in September after only one season with the Auckland Warriors.

"I think he [Botica] is having second thoughts," Robinson said, "but he has signed a two-year contract with Auckland and he is the sort of person who will want to honour it."

The Rugby League Professional Players' Association has joined forces with its counterpart in Australia to "seek a mutually beneficial position" over moves towards a ban on transfers between the two countries.

Castleford have lodged a protest over the ruling that England's match against Wales should not count towards Dean Sampson's four-match suspension. It will be discussed by the Rugby League Council next Wednesday.

Warrington have transfer-listed Chris Rudd and Rob Myler, both at £80,000. Rudd and the already listed Phil Sumner are linked with an exchange deal for Featherstone's Andy Currier.