Millward recruits Josh Griffin

New Castleford Tigers head coach Ian Millward has made 21-year-old outside back Josh Griffin his first recruit for next season. 

Joining from Huddersfield Giants on a one-year deal, Oxford born Griffin played the entire 2011 season on loan with Wakefield Wildcats and impressed a number of rival Super League clubs in doing so. 

Weighing in at over 100kg and 183cm in height, he brings further strength, size and speed to the backline and Millward believes these attributes make him an exciting prospect for the future:  

“He is quite a formidable size and he’s a big boy for 21. I’m looking to add size and pace to the squad and he ticks both boxes.

“Josh had signed for the Crusaders but when that fell over he became available and we managed to get him before he signed elsewhere so I’m pleased to have got him.”

“On the back of Rangi [Chase] and Richie [Owen] re-signing, we are looking at signing young players we think we can develop and improve our squad.

“Josh has lots of potential for development in his game and is keen himself to develop further.

“He will provide very good competition for places and had impressed a number of clubs over the season, particularly with his ability to return the ball coming out of his own half.

“We do have a vacancy in the centre spot; he’ll have an opportunity to play on the wing and hopefully a bit at centre as well. He’s a winger who I think has the ability to play centre and I’d like to make him become more multi-skilled which will help us further down the track.”

On the likely hood of further recruits, Ian said: “I’d like to bring in a couple more forwards and an outside back. We’re busy working on that now – watch this space.”