JOE Burgess, Wigan Warriors’ latest wing sensation, is understood to have signed for the Sydney Roosters for the 2016 season.

Burgess, 20 today, will honour his current contract by playing for Wigan next season but will then leave to play in Australia.

Reports from Sydney say an agreement has already been reached between his agent, the player and the two clubs for him to leave Wigan at the end of next season.

Roosters have been closely linked with Burgess for the past month and according to Sydney sources, he has been made an offer that was quite simply too good to refuse.

Ironically, Burgess leaves for Australia tonight with the England squad for the forthcoming Four Nations event.

This has been his first full season in the Wigan first team having come up through the academy ranks.

He has scored 24 tries this term including Wigan’s solitary try in Saturday’s Grand Final defeat by St Helens.

His last minute try against Warrington in the play-off semi-final helped take Wigan to Old Trafford.

Regarded as one of the hottest properties in the game, Burgess played and scored against the Roosters in the World Club Challenge clash at the start of the season in Sydney.

Warriors coach Shaun Wane said at the time that Burgess was in the side on merit and he was among the few players who shone as the Roosters powered to victory.

His powerful running caught the eye of the Roosters back then and club bosses in Australia have monitored his form throughout the season.

West Tigers had also been tracking Burgess but the Roosters appear to have got their man and have high hopes for him.

The Roosters opened talks with Burgess’ representatives and things have progressed quickly in recent weeks.

Burgess weighed up his options and has decided to test himself against the best by playing in the NRL.

His departure will be a big blow to Wigan who had high hopes for him.

The local lad, who grew up idolising Wigan’s former Aussie winger Brett Dallas, has impressed many this season with his clinical finishing.

It was mooted ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final that a deal with the Aussies had been struck for the 2016 but both the players and his club were refusing to speculate.

Wigan are now expected to make an official announcement on Burgess’ future with him currently travelling to Australia for international duty in the coming weeks.