The Liam Farrell Column: Why signing for five more years was easy

After all, if ever there was a time to move away, perhaps have a crack at the NRL, it’s probably now.

But hand-on-heart, it was such an easy decision to make.

I’m settled here, my wife Laura is happy and she has a good job, and I had no desire to move away.

I’m very happy at this club. Over the years I’ve spoken to lads who’ve moved away and been to other places and a few have said, ‘You don’t know how lucky you are being at Wigan.’

I took that on board.

The club had an option on my contract for next year anyway, but when we came to chat about taking it up, they offered me a new deal.

Originally we were going for four-years, but I thought, ‘If I’m here for four, we may as well make it five’ which takes me to when I’ll be 31, turning 32.

Everything was sorted within days - I didn’t even have an agent involved.

I’m really happy we could do a deal at five-years, and if everything goes to plan I’ll be staying here for the rest of my career.

I couldn’t be happier.

It looks like Saints have found their form just in time for tonight’s derby!

We watched half-an-hour of their game against Hull FC at the Magic Weekend before we had to go and get ready, and to see the 45-0 scoreline at the end was quite shocking. It seems Hull slipped off and Saints – with new coach Justin Holbrook – found some form.

He’s come in and the players there have started afresh with him, and everyone is playing for a place in his side.

They were really good, and we’ll need to make sure we do a job on them.

We had mixed emotions from our 24-24 draw with Warrington last Saturday.

We looked pretty comfortable at 18-6 and threw the game away like we did.

For the neutrals in the crowd – and it was great to finally play at St James’ Park – it must have been a great finish.

Lockers’ kick was right on the money and Budgie’s take was pretty special.

We were happy to salvage a point but disappointed we got into that position in the first place.

With two games over the weekend, we’ve treated it like we have Easter.

This week was always going to be light anyway, because of the Saturday-Thursday turnaround.

We had a light session on Tuesday and then did something a bit different – crown green bowling!

It was one of those games when everyone was on a level playing field. Funny enough, we’ve actually had a few of our end-of-season dos at the bowling green by the Deanery, but this wass probably the first time many of the lads have played it sober!

I can’t say we were up to any standard, but it was good fun and a nice break from the norm’.

It goes without saying everyone at the club has been left devastated by the Manchester terror attack.

My missus woke me up on Tuesday morning to tell me, and I was shocked.

It’s always sad when something like this happens. When it’s in Manchester – right on our doorstep – it really hits home. My thoughts are with all the victims and their families.