during the round five NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Newcastle Knights at Southern Cross Group Stadium on April 1, 2017 in Sydney, Australia.

Newcastle Knights centre Joe Wardle will return to the Super League in 2018 after signing with the Castleford Tigers.

Wardle, 25, joins the Tigers for the 2018 season on a three-year deal.

Scottish International Wardle, who can play in the centre and the back row, made 141 appearances for Huddersfield Giants before heading to Newcastle Knights in December 2016 on a three-year deal. Wardle has made 15 appearances for the Knights this season.

Wardle and his family were keen to move back to the UK and there was only one club the former Giant wanted to join:

Speaking today Wardle said: “I would just like to say thank you to Newcastle for working alongside me in what has been a hard time adjusting to life down under. Rugby careers are short so happiness is key and sometimes things don’t work out, which is, unfortunately, the case. I am really looking forward to getting back home, getting my family settled and teaming up with Daryl and the rest of the boys for the 2018 campaign.”

Tigers head coach Daryl Powell is delighted to welcome Wardle into his ranks: “Joe Wardle is a player that I have been a fan of for a number of years since his time at Huddersfield. I am delighted that on returning to England he has decided that we are the club to help him achieve his goals in the game,”

Powell added: “He is a tough player on both sides of the game being a great line runner on attack and a solid aggressive defender. He can play in both centre and back row positions which strengthens us significantly and grows our competition for places within an already awesome squad. I look forward to his arrival at the club and getting him accustomed to how we play.”

Knights 2024 Player Movements

2024 Gains
Jed Cartwright (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2025), Jack Cogger (Penrith Panthers, 2026), Tom Jenkins (Penrith Panthers, 2025), Fletcher Meyers (Manly Sea Eagles, 2024), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors, 2025), Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants, 2025)
2024 Losses
Fa'amanu Brown (Hull FC), Adam Clune (Huddersfield Giants), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Warrington Wolves), Bailey Hodgson (Manly Sea Eagles), Oryn Keeley (The Dolphins), Kurt Mann (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Lachlan Miller (Leeds Rhinos), Ryan Rivett (Toulouse Olympique), Simi Sasagi (Canberra Raiders), Dominic Young (Sydney Roosters)
Re-Signed
Phoenix Crossland (2026), Tyson Frizell (2026), Dylan Lucas (2025), Greg Marzhew (2026), Enari Tuala (2024)
Off Contract 2024
David Armstrong, Thomas Cant, Mat Croker, Dane Gagai, Tyson Gamble, Zach Herring, Brodie Jones, Krystian Mapapalangi, Myles Martin, Fletcher Meyers, Laitia Moceidreke, Enari Tuala, Toni Tupouniua