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Rugby League

Wigan bag hat-trick of signings

06/12/2006

Rugby League's Wigan Warriors have announced the signings of three of the game's top players ahead of the beginning of the 2007 Super League in February.

Full-back Michael Withers, hooker Shane Millard and young New Zealand scrum-half Thomas Leuluai have all signed multi-year deals at the JJB Stadium and will boost Warriors' playing ranks before they begin the new season.

Wigan are looking to bounce back after a difficult season in 2006 when they flattered to deceive in all competitions, while bitter rivals St Helens completed an outstanding treble - winning the engage Super League Grand Final, the Powergen Challenge Cup and the League Leaders' Shield.

Of the new signings, Leuluai is arguably the most promising. The 21-year-old joins on a three-year deal from Harlequins and head coach Brian Noble says he will be a good fit for the Wigan side.

"Thomas already has experience of the Super League, having played for Harlequins and he should be an excellent partner for [current stand-off] Trent Barrett," Noble said.

"He is only young and will hopefully be set for a long and successful career at Wigan."

Noble also said the signings of Withers, 30, and Millard, 31, on two-year deals would bring "a nice blend of youth and experience" to the side.

Millard will replace hooker Wayne Godwin, who has moved to Hull, and Leuluai is expected to slot into the gap left by Michael Dobson, the scrum-half having left to return to his native Australia.

Withers will inherit the full-back role currently occupied by the inexperienced Chris Ashton.


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