The Maitland Pickers have boosted their squad signing Super League experienced fullback Curtis Naughton.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Naughton joined his new teammates at training on Thursday night and will start with the Pickers against Macquarie Scorpions on Saturday.
The 22-year-old’s move from Hull FC was signed off by the Newcastle Knights and Pickers this week.
Naughton has been playing on loan at Super League team Leigh Centurions, but decided on the move Australia to to be near his mother who emigrated here in 2013.
Pickers coach Trevor Ott said Naughton would be an important addition to the Maitland squad adding much-needed experience in the outside backs.
Ott said Naughton’s inclusion would allow star Super League signing Luke Dorn to play in the halves again.
“It is a big boost for the team as we had to move Dorny back to fullback as we just did not have any experience back there,” Ott said.
“Curtis will move into fullback and give us a major boost in experience, particularly in defence where we have struggled.”
Naughton moved to Australia with his mother in 2013 and spent a year playing with the Sydney Roosters Under-20 team, but returned to the UK signing with Hull FC, where he was contracted until 2018.
During his time with Hull he scored two hat-tricks in the Super League and comes highly rated by Dorn who played against him.
“Dorny rates him as a player and all our reports are that he is a top young bloke and will fit in well and bring a great deal of professionalism to the club,” he said.
Naughton will train with the Knights NSW Cup team and be available for selection.
Ott said the Knights were keen for Naughton to get as much game time as possible and the Pickers were a good fit.
The Pickers have bolstered their squad in 2017 signing Dorn and NRL and Super League forward Dane Tilse.
Both have been successful, but the Pickers young squad is battling for consistency and their defence has been exposed.
Ott said the Pickers would be without Knight Joey Morris after he suffered broken ribs in Saturday’s loss to South Newcastle.
Jake Hawkins is expected to provide back-up at hooker for Jarrod Smith.