Josh Woods stays full-time with ambitious Championship club Newcastle
Newcastle have retained star half-back Josh Woods on a contract until at least the end of the 2023 campaign.
The 23-year-old joined Thunder from Wigan on a two-year deal ahead of this season, but he has now signed a contract extension for a further year.
Woods featured in all but two of Newcastle’s matches last season, scoring three tries and kicking 41 goals.
He said: “I’m buzzing obviously. Thunder is a good place to be at the minute. We hit our goal last year and stayed up, even if we weren’t happy with what we produced sometimes, but we’re going to build on that.
“Hopefully we’re going to push for the top six and top end of the Championship. With the signings we’ve made there’s no reason we can’t do that. We’re a growing club, that is growing in the city and it’s a great place to be.
“There’s nothing better than being full-time to come in every day and work with your mates, working hard, having a laugh and doing the thing you love. Hopefully we can go some good places this year and next.”
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Newcastle coach delighted to secure Josh Woods
Thunder coach Eamon O’Carroll said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to extend Woodsy’s stay with us. We already had him for 2022 but it’s a measure of how important he is that we looked to add another year onto that.
“He was exactly what we hoped he would be last year. Someone who could get us around the park and who had a good goal kicking rate. Some of the plays he worked with the ball in hand were excellent too. I can’t wait to see more of that next season.
“Josh is only 23 so has the prime of his career still to come. I’m looking forward to that being with Thunder.”
Woods made 13 first team appearances for Wigan. In addition, he played almost 50 games on loan in the Championship for Swinton and Leigh before his move to the north east.
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