Wigan Warriors' Joe Greenwood joins Leeds Rhinos on loan

The England forward has failed to break into Adrian Lam's side this season.

And the Warriors agreed to let him join the Headingley outfit on a two-month loan deal.

He could make his debut for Richard Agar's side in front of the Sky Sports cameras against Warrington on Friday night.

Warriors executive director Kris Radlinski said: “Joe has been honest with us about wanting to play regular Super League rugby and we were up-front with him by outlining how with a fully-fit squad to choose from, we couldn’t guarantee him when his next opportunity would be in the up-coming weeks.

"Things have progressed with Leeds and all parties felt it was a good opportunity for the player and it would be wrong for us to stand in his way.

"The situation was approached in a considered manner and we will review it in eight weeks’ time.”

The two-month loan deal includes a match between Leeds and Wigan at the DW on April 17 and the Warriors have, previously, allowed their on-loan players to face them - most recently Morgan Escare (Wakefield) last year.

Greenwood signed for Wigan mid-way through 2018 and made his debut in a win against Leeds at the DW Stadium in June. He went on to score four tries in 11 appearances in his debut campaign for the club – including featuring in the Grand Final triumph over Warrington Wolves - and earned a place in the England squad which beat New Zealand in a three-match series.

But his 2019 campaign was disrupted by spells out of the side through head injury protocols, and with his form struggling, by the end of the year the ex-Saints and Gold Coast player lost his place in the squad.

Liam Farrell and Willie Isa have started in the second-row spots in all four matches this season and both are able to play long minutes, with Morgan Smithies also able to cover.

Wigan's reserve side also features fit-again Jack Wells, who is looking to kickstart his career after a serious foot injury.

The Warriors have already allowed Romain Navarrete (Wakefield) and Josh Woods and Craig Mullen (Leigh) to depart on season-long loans this year.