Toronto Wolfpack sign Ryan Brierley from Huddersfield Giants
Thursday 20 April 2017 17:11, UK
Toronto Wolfpack have secured the services of Scotland international Ryan Brierley from Huddersfield Giants for an undisclosed fee.
The 25-year-old, who joined the Giants on a four-and-a-half-year deal last year, will reunite with his old Leigh coach Paul Rowley and could make his debut in Toronto's Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fifth-round match against Salford on Sunday.
The surprise transfer came within hours of Huddersfield coach Rick Stone announcing that Brierley would replace suspended stand-off Danny Brough in his team to face Swinton in the Cup on Sunday.
Giants managing director Richard Thewlis said: "We received an offer from Toronto director of rugby Brian Noble on Monday which our board, coaching staff, Ryan and his management were made aware of.
"It was clear that the move would be appealing to Ryan and from our side of things once the fee met our value of the player the deal was quickly signed.
"It's a sad day in some respects for us but the reality is that the move to Huddersfield and into Super League didn't really work out as either we nor Ryan would have wished."
Brierley has struggled to settle with the Giants, despite scoring 15 tries in his 25 appearances.
Thewlis added: "He has been an excellent professional with us, well liked amongst the supporters but with him not cementing a place in the matchday 17 in his preferred half-back role I can well see why the chance to do that back with a coach he knows well is appealing to him.
"He leaves us with our best wishes for his future with promotion to the championship this year seeming a certainty for the Wolfpack. I am sure he will play a big part for them in securing that."
The Wolfpack currently top Kingstone Press League One after winning all five of their matches.
