Widnes sign Matthews from Dragons

Widnes have signed forward Will Matthews from St George Illawarra Dragons on a two-year-deal.

The 29-year-old will link up with the Vikings next season after failing to nail down a permanent place in the Dragons first team.

Despite this, he will bring valuable experience with almost 100 NRL games under his belt for both Gold Coast and St George.

Speaking on the new addition, Widnes head coach Denis Betts said: “We have been interested in Will for some time, so I am very pleased to have secured this deal.

“Will is a quality player and will add a lot to the team with his experience of playing in the NRL. He is strong and carries the ball well, but can also offload and support attacking plays effectively too.

“I have also been impressed by his character and his excitement for taking on a new challenge at Widnes Vikings. I’m looking forward to him linking up with the team next season.”

On joining the Vikings, Matthews added: “I’m delighted to be joining Widnes Vikings. I’ve always been interested in playing in the UK, so it is great to have this opportunity to do so at the Vikings.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of people who can’t speak highly enough about the country and the competition, so I’m sure this will be an exciting new chapter for me and my family.

“I’m looking forward to getting out there next season and playing in front of all the supporters.”

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