Exciting backline player Steve Irwin has become the latest player to join the Raiders for next season, after he agreed to a new two year deal with the club today.
Irwin is a former Brisbane Bronco, who is currently playing for the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls in the Queensland cup, but said he is ready for a return to the NRL.
“I am very happy that the Raiders have given me another chance to play in the best competition, and I’m looking forward to moving down to Canberra as soon as I can,” Irwin said.
Irwin spent some time in Canberra earlier this month when the Broncos played the Raiders at Canberra Stadium, and said he was impressed with what the club had to offer.
“The set up at the Raiders is outstanding and I was very excited about the way they run things down there,” he said. “I have also spoken with Neil Henry and he seems like a genuine Coach who knows his football.”
Irwin has a connection with some of the Raiders current first grade squad, as he played with both Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Craig Frawley at the Broncos, and said he is looking forward to meeting the rest of the Raiders squad.
“The Raiders are a team that is going places and I’m very happy to be a part of that,” he said. “They have a great young squad so the future is exciting.”
Raider’s general manager Don Furner said Irwin will be a welcome addition to the Raiders squad in 2007, and will hopefully follow in the footsteps of other players that have made the step up from the Queensland competition.
“Our sources have told us that he is the form centre of the Queensland cup so we are happy to have him coming on board.” Furner said. “We’re confident that Steve will develop here at the Raiders in the same way that Adam Mogg and Phil Graham have, and we believe we have the right structure and coaching staff to make this happen.”
