IT’S A DONE DEAL: Another mega star player committed to the Warrington Wolves just…..

Warrington Wolves have been making significant moves in 2024 under the leadership of Sam Burgess, and this trend looks set to continue into 2025 with the club’s announcement of signing Huddersfield Giants captain Luke Yates.

Securing Yates is a major accomplishment for Warrington, as he is one of the most reliable forwards in the Super League. The Australian even claimed the Top Tackler award in 2023 for making the most tackles throughout the Super League season.

Yates has maintained his exceptional form in 2024, achieving 366 tackles in nine games, which averages out to over 40 tackles per game. This feat places him in the top ten for total tackles, despite missing the first three games of the season, highlighting his workhorse nature.

Warrington Wolves had been linked with the Australian and have now confirmed his signing for the next year via a press release.

The release stated: “Warrington Wolves is delighted to announce the signing of Luke Yates on a two-year deal starting in the 2025 season.

“The Australian forward joins from Huddersfield Giants, where he has captained for the past three seasons and led the team in the 2022 Challenge Cup Final.

“The 29-year-old began his career with Newcastle Knights in the NRL, playing alongside Wolves second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon. He has also played for Salford Red Devils and London Broncos in the Super League.”

Signing Luke Yates is a significant achievement for Warrington and provides them with a contingency plan should Matty Nicholson move to the NRL, as rumored.

While Sam Burgess deflected questions about Nicholson’s potential departure, he acknowledged that there had been candid discussions about the young player’s prospects in Australia.

If Nicholson remains with the team, Warrington will boast an exceptionally strong pack in 2025, with Luke Yates joining other stars like Paul Vaughan, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, and Zane Musgrove, along with Nicholson and other English talents.

Warrington clearly values Yates for his tackling skills, as noted in their announcement, describing him as a “tackling machine.”

They stated: “Yates is a tackling machine who led the competition in tackles last season, completing 1,027 at an average of 42 per game. This season, he made an astounding 61 tackles in the Giants’ match against St Helens.”

Yates will join the club in November when pre-season preparations commence.