Adrian Lam says Mitch Clark joining Leigh Centurions is "a bit of weird one"

Clark, 26, will join Wigan on a three-year contract beginning in 2020 but will be available to the Centurions for the rest of the campaign following his release from Castleford.

The Warriors had wanted to bring him in early to bolster their depleted pack.

But Adrian Lam suggested tonight Castleford wouldn't allow him to join a Super League rival, preferring to let him go to a Championship outfit.

"It's a bit of a weird one, but that's how we roll," said Lam. "We've spoken to Castleford, we've been asking about him every week and the answer has been, 'no, no, no'. But that's the path they wanted to go down and that's okay, we'll keep on picking the young ones."

Leigh Centurions head coach John Duffy said: “I’d like to thank Jon Wells and Daryl Powell at Cas for allowing Mitch to join us.

“I coached Mitch at Fev last year and he’s come on leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. He’s been absolutely superb in Super League, changing the tempo of games when he’s been on the field at Cas.

“He’s a no-nonsense type of player and he’ll soon become a big favourite.

“He’s a really nice bloke and he wants to come to Leigh and finish the year off playing good rugby before he starts with Wigan."

Clark said: “I’m really excited to be coming to Leigh. I was training hard as Cas but not getting game-time and so the chance to get back playing was very exciting."