Wigan let Carney leave to fulfil Australian ambitions

Wigan have released Brian Carney from the last year of his contract so that he can join the Newcastle Knights for a first taste of Australian rugby league in 2006.

Carney was already contracted to the Gold Coast from 2007, but will now be able to move to Australia at the end of this season.

"I'm very grateful to Wigan," said the 28-year-old Irish winger. "They didn't have to do it but I explained my desire to get there because I feel that time is starting to run out. Playing with Andrew Johns for a year is a big incentive for me, because I could learn more from him than I could from any coach."

The Newcastle coach, Michael Hagan, said that it would be a benefit to have Carney at the club, even for only one season. "Based on what we've all seen Brian do at international level, he will be a great asset for the club next year," he said.

Carney is making a quicker recovery than expected from the hamstring injury that has been keeping him out, but has not been included in Wigan's squad for Friday's game at St Helens.

Saints hope to have Paul Sculthorpe back after his hamstring problem, along with Lee Gilmour and James Graham, but will still be without Sean Long, Jason Hooper, Mick Higham and Vinnie Anderson.

Their coach, Daniel Anderson, is not expecting anything resembling their 75-0 massacre of Wigan three weeks ago. "I think this will be a much tougher contest," he said.

Hull have negotiated a severance deal with their Australian centre, Michael Eagar, whose two seasons with the club have been ruined by injury.

"It's no reflection on his ability, but it frees up some money if we can bring someone in for the play-offs," said the club's coach, John Kear. He has enquired about the Wigan pair Martin Aspinwall and Stephen Wild, but his main target is Newcastle centre George Carmon.

Widnes hope to have centre Aaron Moule back from an ankle injury for the match against Wakefield on Sunday. Defeat would leave Widnes five points adrift and would take them close to the brink of relegation from Super League.