Ryan Walker is one of four players from the 2016 Knights’ NSW Cup side to sign with Newcastle Rugby League club Western Suburbs for next season.
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Walker, Uti Baker, Mao Uta and Ben Stone join the Rosellas along with newly appointed Wests coach Matt Lantry, who officially finishes at the Knights on Friday after a decade at the club.
Lantry’s role included two years in charge of the NRL reserve grade team, featuring a title in 2014, and said this quartet may not be the last of the Rosellas’ recruits as the successful club attempts to rectify consecutive campaigns without a premiership in any senior grade.
“It’s an opportunity from my end with relationships I’ve built with those players over time,” Lantry said.
“We’ve been pretty astute in who we’ve recruited with those four guys and I’d like to think there might be another couple to come. We want to ensure we’re building that depth and quality across the basis of two grades so there’s competition for spots week in and week out.”
Walker, who played a handful of NRL games for Penrith, has decided to switch allegiances for a fourth time in the Newcastle first grade competition since 2012 after stints with Maitland, Central and most recently Kurri. The last 12 months also included a Rebels jersey, NSW Country selection and 10 matches with the Knights in NSW Cup.
“He’s a thorough professional who can help us introduce standards at Wests which become benchmarks for the players,” Lantry said.
“His versatility and athleticism allow him to play from fullback to centre and even five-eighth. Where he slots in will be determined during pre-season, but that was a big appeal.”
Baker, a 24-year-old prop who linked with Cessnock last season after a contract offer with Manly fell through, comes into fill the void left by Central-bound Jake Finn.
“Jake [Finn] is a big loss for us but that’s where we hope Uti [Baker] cane step in for us,” Lantry said.
“He had an opportunity with the Knights in cup last season and just got better as the year went on. There’s untapped potential there for sure. A big lad with good leg speed and I reckon he could jump back into the NRL environment one day.”
The final signings, 21-year-old pair Uta and Stone, provide utility value in the backs and forwards respectively.
Lantry also said former NRL pair Brad Tighe and Chad Redman have re-signed with Wests while Rosellas skipper Mark Taufua escaped a recent rugby union cameo with the Newcastle Barbarians unscathed.
Meanwhile, a Country Rugby League-backed six-week Friday-night women’s 9’s competition for juniors between under 14s and under 16s will kick-off at Windale on November 4.
