Wigan Deny Tallis

Fiery Broncos forward Gorden Tallis will not be joining Wigan after the English rugby league club turned down the chance to sign him.

In an indication of English clubs' growing reluctance to rely on Australian imports, Wigan said it would concentrate on producing its own talent.

The Warriors, legendary for their big spending during the 1980s and 1990s when they dominated English league, were considering signing Tallis for a reported $752,180 a year.

Club chairman Maurice Lindsay confirmed that he had been asked to consider the Test second-rower by an Australian agent but said he would not take up the offer.

"I do admire Gorden greatly, but I told the agent that we have different priorities at Wigan now," Lindsay told British newspaper The Guardian.

"I want to invest in the exciting young players we have at the club who are starting to make an impact in the first team this season.

"So I will not be signing Gorden Tallis, sensational player that he is."

Wigan's decision came days after former Great Britain captain Gary Schofield called for Australian "has-beens" to be banned from playing for English clubs.

Schofield said money-chasing Australians had thwarted local talent and banning them would be the only way Britain could ever win another series against the Kangaroos.

At 27-years-old, Tallis - would hardly fall into the category of "Aussie old-timers" targeted by Schofield, who also called for Britain to nurture its own coaches.

Seven of the 12 Super League clubs are coached by Australians, while former St George boss David Waites is the Great Britain coach.

But St Helens coach Ian Millward and Wigan coach Stuart Raper accused Schofield of whinging.

"Garry's just a headline seeker. I've only met the guy once and he told me what a great job I was doing at St Helens," Raper said.