Former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldog Matt Frawley has signed a new two-year contract with English Super League team the Huddersfield Giants.
Frawley has made 31 appearances for the Dogs since making his debut in 2017, but only managed 15 games in 2018 due to health concerns.
Giants coach Simon Woolford told the media how excited he was to have the 23-year old board for the next season.
"I’ve known him for a while now, he came up through the junior grades with Canberra as a half/hooker, he’s really developed nicely at the Bulldogs and we see him as a good fit to our team. He’s got a good kicking game, he’s a competitor and we feel that with the way we play he can add a lot of value to our team. We’re really happy we’ve been able to secure him for the next couple of years," Woolford said.
“He’s still only young so he’s got some things to learn but we feel we can mould him into our team nicely and he will do a really good job. He’s a good organizer with a good kicking game, particularly short kicking game, defensively he’s pretty solid too and that’s what we need, someone who can take control of the game and he certainly can do that.
“It’s going to be great working alongside him again, I’ve known him for a long time at the juniors with Canberra, I’ve kept a keen interest on him and his development. He got to play some good footy at the top grade and he’s certainly shown that he can cut the mustard at NRL level, so we see no reason why he can’t come over here and be a dominant player for us.
“The fans can be excited, it’s always exciting when new players come in and it’s a position we’ve needed to fill.”
The Giants finished the 2018 season in fifth place with equal 11 wins and losses for the year and will be hoping Frawley can had some experience and a spark in their attack for 2019.
Frawley said he always had an interest in playing for a team in the English Super League and is excited by this opportunity which allows him to do so.
"I’m not sure what to expect but I’ve spoken with other players that have made the move to Super League and they’ve said that fans are extremely passionate about their teams and that there’s a great atmosphere at every game which I’m really excited about," Frawley said.
“Simon was the hooker’s coach at the Raiders when I was in the 20’s so I worked with him then. We’re both from Canberra so we’ve got something in common there and I’m really looking forward to working with him and developing my game under him.
"When the opportunity came up to play for him at the Giants I jumped at it straight away, he came to the club last year and did a good job so hopefully we can carry that on and have some success.
“I’ve got a lot to thank Canberra and Canterbury for and I’m looking forward to getting started with Huddersfield now.”