Halifax Panthers announce second new deal as they retain former Wigan Warriors target

Everything is currently rosy at the Shay with Halifax Panthers in great form.

After a disappointing start to the season on the back of a busy winter and a huge recruitment drive, the Panthers are now beginning to show the kind of form they promised after nine signings including former Super League star Kyle Wood from Wakefield.

The Panthers have climbed up to fourth in the table and have only lost five games all season. They alongside York now seem to be putting some serious pressure on Featherstone in second place – something that once seemed impossible.

Giving the Panthers an extra boost, they have tonight at a fan event confirmed the retention of two of those winter signings.

The first was former Louis Jouffret who has signed a two-year deal to keep him at the club until 2024. He helped guide Whitehaven to the play-offs last term before they were beaten by Halifax in week one of the finals.

The former Batley and Featherstone man is set to continue to be key to the Panthers’ spine.

Even more impressive than that piece of retention is the news that fellow former Whitehaven man Lachlan Walmsley will also be staying.

Walmsley caught the eye last year at Whitehaven owing to his try scoring prowess which fired Whitehaven into the top six.

He even attracted the attention of Wigan Warriors only for the Warriors to instead move for Abbas Miski instead allowing the Panthers to pounce.

He’s continued to score for fun at the Shay and is certainly a Super League calibre signing so the fact he’s set to stay for two more seasons is a major coup from the Panthers.