Shaffield Eagles have signed experienced former Super League winger Matty Dawson-Jones from the Bradford Bulls.
Dawson-Jones joins Lewis Peachey through the door of the Olympic Legacy Park ahead of the 2023 season, with the Castleford Tigers academy product signing a two-year deal.
The 32-year-old, who has played for the likes of Huddersfield Giants, St Helens and Hull FC, scored six tries in 24 appearances for the Bulls last year and will provide some much-needed knowhow across the Eagles’ backline.
Speaking to the club website, Dawson-Jones said: “I am over the moon to be fair. It came towards the end of the year and I started talking with Tubbs (Sheffield Eagles Head Coach Mark Aston).
“I’ve played against Sheffield a lot of times in the Championship and I’ve always admired the way they play and that’s what he spoke to me about.
“He told me how he wants us to play and I’m looking forward to being a part of that.”
On why now is the right time to make the switch from West Yorkshire to South Yorkshire, Dawson-Jones added: “I think I was ready for a fresh start, a new chapter and hopefully I can hit the ground running next season.
“It has been a bit turbulent (at Bradford this year). Obviously losing John (Kear, ex-coach) was a bit of a spanner in the works for us as a team and the club as a whole. We needed to rebuild and do it quickly.
“Mark (Dunning) did a good job from my point of view but the results towards the back end of the season didn’t show that and we spiralled out of control a bit.”
Dawson-Jones said he didn’t need to be convinced by Aston as he knows all about the atmosphere at Sheffield Eagles’ home games after playing for Bradford at Olympic Legacy Park last term.
“It’s not just from Tubbs pitching it to me because I can see it myself. Playing at the new ground for Bradford, you can see they’re going in the right direction and they’ve always been a club that have been there or thereabouts.
“I want to help them make that next step and push them on even further.”
Discussing his second new recruit, Aston added: “Matty is exactly the sort of person and player we want to be at Sheffield Eagles.
“He has been around the game for a long time but still has so much to offer. We will have a good mix of youth and experience at the club once again and Matty will be key for a number of lads as they make their way in the game.
“We’ll have a competitive squad which Matty adds perfectly to.”
