Leigh Centurions are pleased to confirm the signing of 23-year-old Australian halfback Josh Drinkwater on a contract until the end of the current season.
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This will be Drinkwater's second spell in England as he was top points scorer for London Broncos in their relegation season of 2014, scoring five tries and kicking 58 goals in 25 appearances.
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A member of Wests Tigers' 30-man squad he has recently been in impressive form in the New South Wales Cup and won the Man of the Match award in NSW Residents' recent victory over Queensland Residents at Langlands Park, Brisbane.
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Sydney born and a former Manly junior, he made his NRL bow with St George Illawarra in 2013 and then joined Wests after leaving London.
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Josh Drinkwater said: "I am very much looking forward to joining Leigh Centurions. It is an ambitious Club and hopefully I can play a part in the Club’s endeavour to Super League promotion."
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Leigh Centurions Head Coach Neil Jukes said: "We are always on the look-out for good, young, hungry and talented players and we constantly scour the market not just in England and the NRL but its feeder clubs, as there is a lot of talent there.
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"Paul Anderson has been watching Josh's performance levels which have been outstanding and he played an integral role in New South Wales' recent win.
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"In the last couple of weeks the whole staff including Derek have monitored Josh closely and he ticks all the boxes. He will add to our current halfback combinations which is already a talented section within our group. I look forward to embracing him into our Club as we set about our only goal this year, a place in Super League."
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Neil Jukes added: "Any player who gets in a 30 man NRL squad is a talented player and Josh probably feels he has unfinished business over here after his year with London ended in relegation.
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"Just as we have researched him thoroughly I believe that likewise Josh and his agent have done their research on Leigh Centurions and the positive feedback he has received about the way we do things here has helped him in making this decision.
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"It is our job to ensure that those on and off field standards are not only maintained but constantly improved as we seek to achieve our goals."
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Leigh Centurions Owner Derek Beaumont said: "I have always stated I am committed to do what is necessary to give this club the best opportunity I can to get into Super League and this is a further signing to support that.
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"Josh is young and energetic and has Super League experience. He has been killing it in the New South Wales Cup where he has been attracting a lot of attention from the NRL and Super League. Josh certainly has the credentials to significantly improve any side.
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"He sees this as a clear challenge of assisting us in gaining Super League status and is incentivised to do so whilst at the same time he can put himself in a larger shop window with the Summer Bash and Middle 8s games that will be live on Sky.
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"There will no doubt then be competition for him from Super League and the NRL and it is my job to compete in that market if we have gained promotion. I am confident that Josh will enjoy his time here and the family friendly atmosphere which should make that job a little easier."