Whitehaven have confirmed two new signings for the 2023 season – with one of them a familiar face.
Fans favourite Guy Graham has re-signed while the new recruit is Daniel Spencer-Tonks, with both players signing deals until the end of the 2023 season.
Graham, 24, who has been keeping in trim playing rugby union with Carlisle where his dad George is coach, also comes off the back of a World Cup campaign with Scotland where he featured off the bench twice against Australia and Fiji.
He has so far made 35 appearances for Haven scoring two tries since making his debut back in 2021.
Head coach Jonty Gorley said: “It’s great to have Guy back with us because I think we still haven’t seen the best of him. This will only be his second full season of rugby league, so taking that into consideration, he’s learned a lot about his role already.
“I think if we see a stronger and fitter Guy he could be up there with the best front rowers in the comp. His post contact metres are great and we all know how hard he can hit. We’re looking forward to seeing Guy play for us again this year.”
While new signing Daniel Spencer-Tonks, 27, joins from Salford Red Devils, he is also fairly new to rugby league having only taken up the sport 12 months ago having been previously played rugby union.
He was playing for Cheltenham Tigers rugby union club, but had also played rugby league at university and was advised to give the 13-side code a go again by a former team-mate.
The end result was that he joined Salford Red Devils and played for the Reserves until winning a first team spot towards the end of last season.
He is a middle who can also play back row, and featured for Salford in Lee Mossop’s testimonial against Warrington and made his Super league debut against the same opponents later in the season the game in which fellow new Haven recruit Josh Rourke featured.
Head coach Gorley said: “Daniel is a late inclusion to our squad, as I got him recommended by Stuart Wilkinson, who’s worked with him at Salford.
“Daniel is a strong middle who could cover back row if needed, He’s very athletic for a middle and held his own making his SL debut last year against Warrington.
Like Guy Graham, Daniel’s background is RU and he’s only been playing RL for 3 seasons.
“He is being tipped for bigger things so hopefully we’ll see what Daniel can do for Haven.”
Director Ashley Kilpatrick said “it’s great to have Guy and Daniel with us for the next 12 months, Guy has really come on in the last 12 months and will only get better the more he plays and trains.
“Daniel comes from having been in a Super League environment for the past 12 months. He comes with good raps of being aggressive in the middle and having good foot work and being athletic.
“We are all looking forward to seeing both lads in action in 2023.”
