Huddersfield sign Challenge Cup Finalist

Huddersfield Giants have signed Luke Yates from Salford Red Devils on a two-year-deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year old forward has spent the last two seasons in the Super League, making 28 appearances for London Broncos in 2019 and 18 appearances for Salford Red Devils in 2020, reaching the Challenge Cup Final with the club.

He arrived in Super League from Newcastle Knights in the NRL, having made 25 appearances in his time down under. He has also played under-20s representative football for New South Wales in 2015.

Yates told the club website: “The main motivation for me was to work with Ian Watson, we have a long history even though we’ve only worked together for a year.

“He tried to sign me when I signed for the Broncos, he signed me to Salford and when the opportunity opened up for me to work with him again, I knew I wanted to join the club.

“I’m coming here to play my role for the team and hopefully help transfer my effort into some wins. I’m not coming here to tag along, I want to be dominant in the pack and I’m coming to Huddersfield to win things.

“The squad that the club have put together is unbelievable, and the additions to the squad are excellent, and in Ian Watson they’ve got someone who wants to be at the top of the table, competing for titles, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Head Coach Watson added: “Luke is and was amongst the best middles in the competition last year and is definitely one of the hardest working players you will ever come across. His appetite for the contest is shown in his work ethic for his teammates in Defence and his attitude to turn up for the tough carries.

“Luke was a number one target and I am over the moon with Luke joining us at the Giants and again would like to thank the work done by Ken and Richard behind the scenes to get it across the line.

“It was essential bringing Luke to the Giants because of what he is which is a total professional top quality player with endless energy for the game.”