Wigan have winner in Andy Powell, says Scott Quinnell

Scott Quinnell has tipped Andy Powell to be a big hit in Rugby League following his decision to cross codes and sign a three-year deal with Wigan.
Sale No.8 Powell, aged 31, will link up with the Super League leaders at the end of May, becoming the highest-profile player to leave Union for League since Gareth Thomas joined the Crusaders in 2010.
Powell will play prop, as Quinnell did back in 1994, when he signed on at Wigan for what was then a record £400,000 fee for a forward.
And his countryman believes Powell will find the adjustment to playing league far easier than in his day.
“It will take him a bit of time to adapt, because he’ll have to get used to running back 10 metres and learn Wigan’s defensive structures,” Quinnell told The Rugby Paper.
“But the big difference now is that Rugby Union players are professionals, unlike in my day, and it’ll be lot easier to switch codes.
“All the attributes he brings to the game – his ball carrying, his offloading and his one-on-one defence – mean that league is the perfect game for him.
“He’s a character who can give a bit of banter as well as take it, so I’m sure he’ll fit in well around the dressing room.
“He’ll enjoy playing on the hard grounds and getting his hands on the ball more. I think it’s a challenge he’ll relish.”
While the move from modern day union to league may be easier, according to Quinnell, the former British Lion says one thing has remained the same since he left the Scarlets for Central Park – the hot reception he will get on the field.
Gareth Thomas’ first experience of a Rugby League tackle left him seeing stars on his debut for the Crusaders, the club Powell nearly joined until opting for Sale.
“When players cross codes everybody steps it up, the first couple of tackles will be a little harder and the hand on the face will be there a couple of seconds longer just to show him what he’s come into,” Quinnell explained.
“That was the same 20 years ago and it will be the same when Andy pulls that jersey on.
“I remember my first experience of contact in league: I ran in too low and had about five forearms in my face. One of them was (fellow convert) Richard Webster’s!
“But Andy is a big man who is light on his feet and I’m sure he’ll take the challenge on.”
Quinnell added: “Wigan is a fantastic club and I think the timing is just right for him to go there.
“Wigan are doing well and he’ll be playing with some of the best players in the world like Sam Tomkins.”
Meanwhile, former GB Rugby League coach Phil Larder, who successfully moved across to union in the late Nineties, is another who thinks Powell will flourish in the 13-man game.
“I’ve coached against Powell a couple of times and I rate him very highly,” Larder said.
“We always identified him as one of the major threats.
“He has exceptional ball skills and perhaps at times he’s been a bit wasted in our game (union).”
Powell, who toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 2009 and won the last of his 23 caps for Wales in February 2012, will hope to play himself into contention for the Rugby League World Cup which starts at the end of October.