St Helens close in on Catalans Dragons star as Champions eye up forward
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 2:49 pm
Matt Whitley is close to becoming a St Helens player in 2024
St Helens are leading the race to sign Catalans Dragons back-rower Matt Whitley. Rugby League Live understands Whitley will leave France at the end of the season after deciding to return to England.
Inevitably, the 27-year-old has commanded a stack of interest in recent weeks, but it is the Super League champions who appear the most likely to acquire his services in a move that would see Whitley bring an end to a five-season spell in Perpignan.
St Helens, who are already thought to have secured a deal for Warrington Wolves hooker Daryl Clark next season, are unlikely to make significant changes to their squad for the next season with most of their off-contract players, barring James Roby, expected to re-sign.
But Whitley would be a solid arrival after being a consistent performer throughout his Super League career. He was a standout in the Widnes Vikings side that was relegated, but eventually got the move to Catalans off the back of it. He has now made 154 Super League appearances, scoring 38 tries. He has been capped twice by England Knights.
His departure will be a loss to Steve McNamara, though not an unexpected one. It was confirmed in the RFL's off-contract list that he had not been offered terms for the coming campaign. But the Dragons have already confirmed the capture of Hull FC's Chris Satae and are thought to be closing in on Penrith Panthers' Tyrone Peachey. They also have an offer in place for Kruise Leeming, who is currently in the NRL playing for Gold Coast Titans.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... dium=email
St Helens are leading the race to sign Catalans Dragons back-rower Matt Whitley. Rugby League Live understands Whitley will leave France at the end of the season after deciding to return to England.
Inevitably, the 27-year-old has commanded a stack of interest in recent weeks, but it is the Super League champions who appear the most likely to acquire his services in a move that would see Whitley bring an end to a five-season spell in Perpignan.
St Helens, who are already thought to have secured a deal for Warrington Wolves hooker Daryl Clark next season, are unlikely to make significant changes to their squad for the next season with most of their off-contract players, barring James Roby, expected to re-sign.
But Whitley would be a solid arrival after being a consistent performer throughout his Super League career. He was a standout in the Widnes Vikings side that was relegated, but eventually got the move to Catalans off the back of it. He has now made 154 Super League appearances, scoring 38 tries. He has been capped twice by England Knights.
His departure will be a loss to Steve McNamara, though not an unexpected one. It was confirmed in the RFL's off-contract list that he had not been offered terms for the coming campaign. But the Dragons have already confirmed the capture of Hull FC's Chris Satae and are thought to be closing in on Penrith Panthers' Tyrone Peachey. They also have an offer in place for Kruise Leeming, who is currently in the NRL playing for Gold Coast Titans.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... dium=email
He's 30. So a few years left in him, I guess.