Joe Burgess determined to change life in Wigan with Hull is the best

JOE Burgess is in no doubt that leaving Wigan was the best thing for his career – now to deny the Warriors a place at Wembley.

The Hull KR winger has swapped his hometown for Humberside and will be one of Rovers’ key weapons in tomorrow’s Challenge Cup semi-final against the club that made him.

And he believes heading east has changed life off the pitch for the better, even if the accent – where it’s not nerrr, nine is narn and five is farv – is odd.

“Am I used to this?” Burgess asked, before adding a sincere, “Nerrrr, I didn’t.”

“But I love life in Hull. It’s been a change of scenery and I feel like moving across the country definitely gives me an advantage on the field.

“I wouldn’t say I get bored of things, but new things really give me new impetus and new goals.”

Hull KR’s meeting with Wigan is more than a reunion between Burgess and his old club, where he won a Super League title and a World Club Challenge.

It also sees his St Edmund Arrowsmith School mates back together, he and Luke Thompson with another Wiganer – the injured Oliver Gildart – hoping their town will be denied a trip to Wembley.

If they do, he can claim more of his agent’s fee after Burgess opted to reconnect with his big partner.

“He claims he’s the reason I’m here,” he added. “They’re trying to take a percentage of my salary.

“OK, he was definitely a factor. My best mate is here so it was a no-brainer.”