WOLVESWarrington Wolves swoop to sign captain of Super League rivals

[josie andrews]

Warrington Wolves have been making huge splashes in 2024 under Sam Burgess and it could continue in 2025 as the club has announced that they have signed Huddersfield Giants captain Luke Yates.

It’s a major piece of business for Warrington to get done with Yates being one of the most consistent forwards in Super League, the Australian even winning the Top Tackler award in 2023 for the most tackles across the Super League season.

Yates has continued that form in 2024 with 366 tackles in his nine games, an average of just over 40. That puts him in the top ten for total tackles despite the fact he missed the first three games of the season, a testament to what a workhorse he is.

Warrington Wolves had been linked with the Australian but they have now confirmed his signing for next year with the club reporting the news via a press release.

It read: “Warrington Wolves is delighted to announce the signing of Luke Yates on a two-year deal from the 2025 season.

“The Australian forward joins from Huddersfield Giants who he has captained for the last three seasons and led the side out in the Challenge Cup Final in 2022.

“The 29-year-old came through the ranks for Newcastle Knights in the NRL, where he played alongside Wolves second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon. He has also had Super League spells with Salford Red Devils and London Broncos.”

The signature of Luke Yates is a massive one for Warrington to achieve and it’s also one that will offer them protection should Matty Nicholson head to the NRL, as has also been reported

Sam Burgess batted away questions about Nicholson’s departure but noted that there had been honest conversations about the prospects of leaving for Australia at such a young age.

Should Nicholson stay then Warrington will have an incredibly dominant pack for 2025 with Luke Yates joining the likes of Paul Vaughan, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Zane Musgrove as overseas stars alongside the likes of Nicholson and other English talents.

Wire have clearly identified Yates for his aforementioned tackling prowess as they referenced it in their announcement, labelling the Aussie as a “tackling machine”.

They said: “Yates is a tackling machine and led the competition for most tackles last season, completing 1,027 at an average of 42 per game. This season he made a staggering 61 tackles in the Giants’ Super League match against St Helens.”

The Australian will join up with the club in November when pre-season preparations begin.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/warringt ... als-92296/

[josie andrews]

Warrington always seem like vultures in regards to getting players from other teams!

[Charriots Offiah]

He's no great shakes.

[josie andrews]

He's no great shakes.

Didn’t say he was but they do like to take players from other teams.

[Firestarter]

Nicholson has signed for Canberra i think

[josie andrews]

Nicholson has signed for Canberra i think

Yes. He has was just about to post the following thread

NEWSCanberra Raiders beat out “four to five” NRL sides to sign English star


Canberra Raiders are one of the NRL sides that traditionally have an English contingent and they’ve added to that with reports that Warrington Wolves’ Matty Nicholson will join the club next season.

Those reports on the move have come from Sydney Morning Herald reporter Michael Chammas who took to social media to confirm that Nicholson would be signing with the Raiders from next season.

Nicholson has been linked with a move down under and only recently Sam Burgess spoke on the topic, explaining that he had long and honest conversations with the 20-year-old about the reality and prospect of moving down under at such a young age.

Burgess had said: “He’s got ambition and I respect that. If he is going to go that way, we’ll send him in the best shape possible and with the most experience possible, but he’s a wonderful player.”

Of course, Sam Burgess did so himself and would go on to become one of the most dominant forwards of his era and arguably the best-ever Englishman in the NRL, meaning Nicholson will have been incredibly well-advised on the matter.

Nicholson will be the latest in a line of English players to play for the ‘Green Machine’ with Morgan Smithies having moved to the club prior to this season, whilst the likes of Nicholson’s current club and national captain George Williams also represented the Raiders during his time down under.

Michael Chammas provided the update on his social media that Matty Nicholson, who Wire had signed from Wigan late in the 2022 season, will head down under.

Nicholson had one more year left on his contract with Warrington Wolves but he leaves a year early to take up a chance down under.

Chammas posted on X: “Some news on 100% Footy tonight… young English backrower Matty Nicholson has agreed to join the Canberra Raiders from next season. He’s 20 and plays for Warrington under Sam Burgess. He had 4-5 NRL clubs after him. Good get for the Raiders.”

The news could be announced officially in the coming days with Warrington having already confirmed that they have signed Luke Yates for next season. The Huddersfield Giants captain will join Warrington on a two-year deal.

Sam Burgess had spoken on what a huge signing the Australian was, labelling Yates as an “outstanding” player.

Burgess said: “Luke is an outstanding player who has been one of the comp’s most consistent and hard-working forwards for a number of years.

“He will bring great quality and leadership to our pack and I’m excited to work with him next season.”

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/canberra ... tar-92311/

[Ipinwigan]

He's no great shakes.

Didn’t say he was but they do like to take players from other teams.

So do we, Dupree, Walters etc.
You can't blame a team for building their squad.

[moto748]

I just watched Cats v Wire, and have to say, Wire were very impressive. Did a hell of a lot of defending, but truth to say, Cats really didn't throw that much at them. They certainly looked like a top, well-organised side.

[josie andrews]

He's no great shakes.

Didn’t say he was but they do like to take players from other teams.

So do we, Dupree, Walters etc.
You can't blame a team for building their squad.

At least we, Wigan Warriors, do have decent academy teams where a large majority are promoted to the first team!

[fozzie58]

I think Yates is a decent signing not a word beater but a solid and sensible signing a player who'll go all day long something has changed at Wire,no more stupid vanity signings such as Greg Inglis but players but players who will add to a team.

I was very sceptical of the move for Burgess but hey im happy to say at the moment I got that well wrong,hes clearly reaping the benefit of happy harry Powell clear out of the dead wood and has allowed him a pretty solid start to life as a coach.