JOSH Drinkwater’s next move following his departure from Warrington Wolves has been confirmed.
The scrum-half will drop into the Championship for 2025, with newly-promoted Oldham having confirmed his signature on a one-year deal.
Having joined from Catalans Dragons ahead of the 2023 season, the Australian made exactly 50 appearances in a Wire shirt – 25 in each season – scoring five tries and kicking 10 goals.
He started 2024 as first-choice scrum-half alongside George Williams, but injury allowed youngster Leon Hayes to assume his role and even upon his return to fitness, Drinkwater found himself out of the side.
When Hayes himself then suffered a season-ending injury, however, Drinkwater stepped back into the breach and was ever-present for the remainder of the season.
Now, he is tasked with helping the Roughyeds establish themselves in the second tier after a dominant League One title win.
"This is a club that is ambitious and I wouldn't have come if it wasn't," Drinkwater told Roughyeds TV.
“I am on the other side of the world, I am here to play rugby and I want to achieve things.
“You saw how good this club went in League 1 and the signings they have made for the Championship.
“With Sean Long as the coach and the squad we have got I am really confident we can have a good crack at doing something pretty special."
Drinkwater joins his former Warrington teammate Gil Dudson at Boundary Park, with the Welsh prop having also signed to join Sean Long’s side on a one-year deal having spent most of 2024 on loan at Salford Red Devils.
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