Aussies in the mix overseas

UK giants Wigan have welcomed back former centre Andrew Farrar, but this time to the coaching ranks for the coming season. Farrar's most recent assignment was the first grade post at St George Illawarra, but he has been out of the picture for two years now.

The Warriors are also after Parramatta's Michael Vella in order to shore up their forward's department. Vella might be tempted to take up the offer given the Eels big spending habits in the off-season and the likelihood of some intense competition for first grade spots.

Meanwhile, there has bee a surge of Aussie captains in the ESL, with former Canberra No. 7 Mark McLinden set to have the "c" next to his name this year. London coach Tony Rea has appointed the 25-year-old following the departure of long-serving trio Mat Toshack, Steele Retchless and Jim Dymock at the end of last season.

McLinden is on a two-year deal with the Broncos and joins fellow former NRL players Richard Swain (Hull), Ben Roarty (Huddersfield), Jason Demetriou (Wakefield) and Shane Millward (Widnes) as new overseas skippers for 2005.