Joe Arundel decides to go part-time with Championship club

Former Wakefield centre Joe Arundel has decided to go part-time with Championship club Halifax in 2022.

The 30-year-old has made more than 200 career appearances for Castleford, Hull and Wakefield. The former England Knights international left Trinity at the end of last season.

Arundel said: “I knew from the first chat with Simon (Grix, coach) the clear ambitions of the club going forward and that I wanted to be a part of that.

“We have an extremely talented group of players that can achieve success.”

Halifax coach delighted to secure services of Joe Arundel

Panthers boss Simon Grix said: “Joe has made the decision to pursue part-time rugby and we are fortunate to have acquired his services.

“He is a big body and will prove a handful on the edge in both attack and defence. He debuted early so he has been around a while, but at 30 has a while left in the game.

“His experience will prove invaluable to our younger outside backs.”

Elsewhere in the Championship: former Warrington winger pens two-year deal at Newcastle

Newcastle Thunder winger Jack Johnson has signed a new two-year contract extension at Kingston Park.

Johnson, 25, scored 12 tries in 18 appearances last season after arriving from Widnes.

He said: “Last year was good and challenging at times but we achieved what we wanted and set a platform for going forward.

“I loved being here and we started talking around a quarter into the season about extending, what it was going to look like next season, where we want to get to and it was a pretty easy decision to make on hearing that and the club’s ambition.

“What was said has been delivered and that is good. Going full-time is brilliant, it’s what the club needed and I think we can really kick on now.”

READ MORE: Championship ins and outs for 2022: Signings and retentions club-by-club