Jeremy Latimore returns to Dragons

Dragons.com.au

STAFF WRITER | September 20, 2017 - 10:28am

St George Illawarra have announced that front-rower Jeremy Latimore will return to the Dragons on a one-year deal.

Latimore spent the 2012 Telstra Premiership season at the club and will return to the Dragons until at least the end of 2018.

The 30-year-old has played 139 NRL games to date – having spent time at the Parramatta Eels (2009), New Zealand Warriors (2010-11), Penrith Panthers (2013-16) and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2017) previously.

Latimore also featured for the Prime Minister's XIII side back in 2015 against Papua New Guinea.

Director of Rugby League Pathways Ian Millward was pleased to add a further element of experience to the Dragons' 2018 squad.

"When we came to the decision with Jeremy, it was more so to see what he could bring to the club off the field just as much as what he could bring on it. Jeremy is very keen to be involved in that process," Millward said.

"We were looking for a player who had played over 100 first grade games and who could come into our squad and add some experience and character.

"We also have to anticipate that we may have Paul Vaughan and definitely Tyson Frizell and Jack de Belin out over the Origin series next season so we wanted to make sure we weren't throwing all of our young boys in over that period."

Latimore's signature is another boost for the Dragons following the external acquisitions of Ben Hunt and James Graham earlier this year.

It follows the likes of skipper Gareth Widdop, Tyson Frizell, Euan Aitken, Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughan, Tim Lafai, Kurt Mann, Jason Nightingale, Jai Field, Jacob Host, Blake Lawrie, Luciano Leilua and Reece Robson who have extended their arrangements with the Dragons during 2017.