The representative forward has returned to the region and will get a new Southern Inland start with the Boiled Lollies.

Moving to Wagga for work, Gleeson said the chance to play with a couple of familiar faces is what drew him to the club.

“I knew a few of the boys from playing with and against them pretty well,” Gleeson said.

“Playing against them they had a good feel as a club.”

After leaving the Blacks after one season at the helm, the 26-year-old had planned to spend last season with Queanbeyan Whites.

However a shoulder injury curtailed his hopes.

Instead he sat the year out after undergoing surgery, but is ready to get back into the sport.

“I took last year to try and get the shoulder up to scratch," Gleeson said.

After being a big part of the Blacks’ premiership success in 2014, Gleeson has already got a taste of playing his former club.

He put his shoulder to the test against his former club and is happy with how it has come through.

“I had a bit of a hit out against Griffith of all teams,” Gleeson said.

“I gave it a test run there and it went pretty well.”

Gleeson thought the trial match was good to get the first clash against his former teammates out of the way.

Joining the club last week, Gleeson has been impressed by how strong Wagga City’s numbers have been at training runs.

He’s hoping to slot into the hooker role, but believes there is plenty of strength across the forward pack.

“Hopefully (I’ll play) at hooker, but they seem to have a lot of depth in the front row and all through the forward pack,” Gleeson said.

“I’ll play wherever I'm needed, but hopefully at hooker.”

“I’ve been to two training runss so far and they seem to have good numbers there.

“I guess is half the trick having a bit of depth at the club.”

Gleeson joins former Leeton halfback Stuart Dyer as big inclusions for last season’s grand finalists.

However, Wagga City are yet to lock in a coach for the 2017.

Applications for the head coaching position vacated by Nathan Honeyman closed on Friday and a decision is expected in the coming days.

Wagga City starts their season with a grand final rematch against Waratahs at Conolly Rugby Complex on April 8.

In other first round clashes Griffith host Ag College, while CSU will take on Albury and Tumut travels to take on Leeton.