Ex-Cessnock captain coach Al Lantry has quit the Goannas and will play with the Western Suburbs Rosellas in next season’s Newcastle Rugby League premiership.
Wests have also signed Wyong brothers Alex and Daniel Langbridge and backrower Blake Andrews while Maitland five-eighth Ryan Walsh is set to be reunited with his brother Luke in the halves.
Rosellas coach Matt Lantry said the signings will bolster the club’s depth and believes the experience of Lantry will be a real asset for Wests.
Lantry had a tough year personally with injury and found the coaching role at Cessnock challenging with the Goannas under-performing in most people’s eyes to finish second from the bottom.
He originally agreed to coach the club again in 2019 before having a re-think and pulling out with Todd Edwards back at the Goannas in the coaching role.
“Al’s a real handy pick-up for us. He can play edge backrow or in the middle and him coming to us basically came about from a phone call,”Matt Lantry said.
“He’s living at Wallsend and was probably looking for a bit of a change.”
Meanwhile, grandfinalist Lakes United have re-signed skipper Shaun Boss and outstanding young hooker Daniel Peck in a huge boost to the club for next season.
The Seagulls have also secured Jack Kelly, Matt Craig and Nick Glohe from the side beaten in the Newcastle Rugby League decider by South Newcastle and hope to have most of their squad back for 2019 under new coach Glenn Agland.
