Shaun Wane Backs Josh Charnley To Play Union For England

The Grand Final isn't a bad way to bow out of rugby league as many have found in the past. Josh Charnley is the latest Wigan Warrior to finish his time at the club in the biggest match of the season. His coach reckons that similar success is coming his way in the 15 man code.

Wigan face Warrington in the Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday evening. It's a chance for Charnley to sign off from 'league' with a third Grand Final victory in what is a repeat of the 2013 final when the Wire led 16-6 at half-time before losing 16-30.

Charnley will be treading a path already played out by the most famous league to union convert Jason Robinson. The Warriors winger will be swapping Wigan for Sale Sharks come the end of the season. Coach Shaun Wane told Sale's website that he thinks Charnley will be a big star for them and maybe England too:

"England have a lot of talented wingers in union, but Josh can be right up there ... He's a big, strong fella who's quick and knows how to finish. If he sets his mind to it and gets a bit of luck, I can't see why he won't become a full England international."

The previous big name English international to switch codes was Sam Burgess. The South Sydney Rabbitohs player switched to Bath but after one season and a failed World Cup was quickly back in the 13 man game. Wane went on to explain how to avoid that happening adding, "The key is him being given time ... He needs to understand the game, make some mistakes and learn from them. They didn't give Sam Burgess enough time. Josh is only a young kid so he has the years to get better. If Sale are patient and England are patient, they'll get the best out of him."

Robinson is the best example in this country of a player making the move from one code to another. As a league player he made the World Cup final only to lose but as a union player he managed to get his hands on the trophy, scoring England's only try in the final.

If Charnley can recreate the time Robinson had in the 15 man code then he'll have done extremely well!

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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