Leigh winger Jy Hitchcox makes move to League 1 club

League 1 club Rochdale Hornets have signed Australian winger Jy Hitchcox from Championship high-flyers Leigh on a two-week loan deal.

The 32-year-old has been limited to few appearances with the Centurions this season due to injuries. He moves to the Hornets in a bid to seek game-time with a view of getting back into Adrian Lam’s first team squad at Leigh.

Hitchcox has made more than 100 career appearances for Wests Tigers, Featherstone, Castleford, Bradford, Toulouse and Leigh.

Rochdale chairman Andy Mazey said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring a player of Jy’s quality to Rochdale Hornets.

“Matt has been keen to strengthen his backline options and you only need to look at Jy’s try-scoring record in Super League and the top end of Championship to appreciate how big of a coup this is for Hornets; and the League 1 competition as a whole.

“I would like to personally go on record and thank Chris Chester and Derek (Beaumont) at Leigh for their support on this one.”

More on Jy Hitchcox

Jy Hitchcox’s NRL dream “sort of died” before phonecall from Mick Potter

Hitchcox remembers bone disease worry, NRL debut & Toulouse promotion

Hitchcox still hasn’t watched Castleford’s Grand Final defeat back

He played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final. His Castleford side went down to a 24-6 defeat to rivals Leeds at Old Trafford.

He helped the Tigers clinch the League Leaders’ Shield in the same season, by scoring 21 tries in 26 appearances.

Rochdale have made a strong start to the League 1 season, having won six from their first seven games of the season.

Hitchcox is in contention to make his debut for the Hornets in Sunday’s League 1 clash at Keighley. He will also be available for their game the following week against Doncaster at home.

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