WIGAN Warriors' star signing Trent Barrett breathed a massive sigh of relief when coach Brian Noble helped preserve the club's Super League status.

Barrett was still prepared to travel 12,000 miles and play National League rugby had Wigan been relegated but he's mighty glad to see his new club still in the top flight.

Wigan don't want a repeat in 2007 and the stand-off intends hitting the ground running following his move from the St George Illawalla Dragons.

"Playing for Wigan in the National League next year wasn't part of the plan so you can understand I was getting anxious watching the results and following the games in England," the 29-year-old Test star said.

"Teams around Wigan kept winning and it was all getting very tense but I wasn't going to back out of the deal because it's always been an ambition to play in England and having the chance to play for a club with Wigan's stature and history speaks for itself.

"Fortunately it all came right in the end, Wigan stayed up and we all look forward to the new season. I could relax at last and I know that Wigan were playing some great rugby towards the end of last season and things are on the up again but I still would have come over to help them get back up had they gone down.

"This is the kind of challenge that I look forward to. I was on good money back home in St George and could have stayed so it's fair to say it wasn't the dollars that brought me to these shores - I've wanted this challenge.

"Back home, English clubs don't get more famous than Wigan and I could see myself in the cherry and white shirt.

Faces

"I guess I'll need a few games under my belt to settle in but right now I'm excited at the prospect of getting up, going training and seeing so many fresh faces.

"I'm looking forward to teaming up at half-back with Thomas Leuluai, another newcomer. He's a good player and the make-up of the side is very good.

"The pack looks particularly strong. Stuart Fielden is a very good player and it's an ideal challenge at this stage of my career because I'm at the right side of 30 and feel I have the game suited for Super League."

Meanwhile, Noble is predicting a tough competition with the battle for top-six places keener than ever.

He said: "Standards continue to rise every year. St Helens could again be the team everyone has to beat but there will be strength across the board right through Super League.

"It's good to be back in the swing of things preparing for a big season and lessons have been learned from last season.

"It was exciting and it was tense but we certainly don't want a repeat."

OLDHAM have signed local-born Scotland international Ian Sinfield from National League Two rivals Swinton on a 12-month deal.

The 29-year-old former Salford, Rochdale and Keighley forward, who is the older brother of Leeds and Great Britain loose forward Kevin Sinfield, made 72 appearances for the Roughyeds from 1997-2001.

FORMER Warrington favourites Toa Kohe-Love and Paul Noone will face their old team-mates when Widnes take on the Wolves in the Boxing Day friendly.

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