SCONE-born Newcastle Knights hooker Tyler Randell has signed a two-year deal with English Super League club Wakefield Trinity.
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Randell, who turns 25 in August, will join the west Yorkshire organisation for the start of the 2018 season and will go head-to-head with Kyle Wood for the No.9 role.
“I am delighted to secure the services of Tyler for two years,” Wakefield coach Chris Chester said.
“His position is one that we identified at the start of the season that we did not have a great deal of depth.
“By bringing in Tyler, it will bring in a genuine competition and add quality to what is already a strong squad.”
The Newcastle Herald reported in June that Randell was poised to leave for the Super League and that his manager, Sam Ayoub, had been in England scouting clubs.
There was speculation in the pre-season that Knights coach Nathan Brown had encouraged Randell to move on, but the Aberdeen Tigers product insisted on honouring his contract and fighting for a first grade spot.
Having featured in 38 NRL games in 2015 and 2016, Randell has played only three times this year, despite the absence of experienced dummy half Rory Kostjasyn.
A player who undoubtedly is one of the hardest working individuals out on the field, he continues to prove he’s a useful player from the bench.
His first NRL appearance for 2017 was in round 10 against Canberra, and he played a part in the side’s second win for the season.
While he did have his battles with injury during the 2016 season, Randell managed 18 appearances and was one of the club’s best in defence.
Originally a half, he has spent the vast majority of his NRL games playing at dummy half and never lets the team down with his outstanding work ethic.