League 1 side swoop for Australian utility from Down Under who links up with new club immediately

Ben Olawumi
Keighley Cougars, SWPix

Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com.

League 1 outfit Keighley Cougars have confirmed the signing of Australian Josh Martin for the 2024 season, who returns from Down Under to join Matt Foster’s side.

Born in Kogarah, New South Wales, the utility-back spent 2022 in the Championship with Whitehaven before heading home.

He featured 19 times for the Marras that year and scored four tries – including one in a 60-0 rout of Doncaster in the Challenge Cup – as they achieved a 10th place finish in the second tier with nine wins and a draw.

Now, Martin will try his hand in the third tier of British rugby league with the Cougars, who were relegated this year by the cruel margin of three points – difference, not competition.

League 1 side swoop for Australian Josh Martin from Down Under; Utility links up with new club immediately

The Aussie – who is able to feature at full-back, centre and on the wing – will turn 27 in February, and saw his signing announced by Keighley on their X account -@Cougarmania – earlier today as below.

The back’s first Keighley appearance could come in their Boxing Day friendly with Oldham. Foster’s side also take on Super League side Castleford Tigers and Championship outfit Halifax Panthers in pre-season run-outs before kicking off their competitive games in the 1895 Cup group stages against Dewsbury Rams on January 28.

Former Super League ace Will Maher – who played for both Hull KR and Castleford Tigers – has also linked up with Keighley this off-season, with Brandon Pickersgill another addition at Cougar Park, the full-back making the move across Yorkshire from Halifax Panthers.

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League 1 Josh Martin