WARRINGTON Wolves appear to be closing in on the signing of half-back Josh Drinkwater.
The Wire have been heavily linked with a move for the Australian scrum-half in recent weeks and the Guardian understands talks over a deal bring him to The Halliwell Jones Stadium are progressing.
A potential obstacle could have been the 30-year-old’s contractual status with current club Catalans Dragons – his deal with the Perpignan club still has another season to run.
However, reports in the French media from earlier in the week quote Dragons owner Bernard Guasch as saying Drinkwater is free to find a new club as they try to ease salary cap pressure.
If a deal is completed, Drinkwater would take up Wire’s last remaining overseas quota spot – he would join Paul Vaughan, Josh McGuire, Sam Kasiano, Thomas Mikaele, Matt Dufty and Peter Mata’utia on the quota.
Despite having veteran utility man Stefan Ratchford and youngsters Riley Dean and Leon Hayes as options, head coach Daryl Powell had outlined a desire to add another half-back to support George Williams for 2023.
That search has taken them to Drinkwater, who has played a central role in Catalans’ rise to being perennial contenders for silverware in recent years.
> Click here to read our piece taking a closer look at the potential signing of Josh Drinkwater
He steered the Dragons to a historic Challenge Cup title in 2018 at Warrington’s expense and he was also a key member of the squad that won the 2021 League Leaders’ Shield and reached that year’s Grand Final, only to lose to St Helens at Old Trafford.
Drinkwater made 21 appearances during the 2022 Super League season, scoring two tries and assisting 16 more, and he has played more than 150 times for European clubs having also represented London Broncos, Leigh Centurions and Hull KR as well as St George Illawarra Dragons and Wests Tigers in the NRL.
Warrington have increased salary cap space with which to work after second rower Oliver Holmes’ move to newly promoted and rebranded Leigh Leopards was confirmed last week.
Holmes was just one season into a three-year deal at The Halliwell Jones Stadium but has followed former Wire teammates Jack Hughes, Matt Davis, Robbie Mulhern and Jacob Gannon to Leigh Sports Village.
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