IT'S taken three years, but Group Nine club Brothers has finally got its man.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Continuing a mega-impressive recruitment drive in recent months, Brothers yesterday snared dynamic halfback Josh Trindall for the Group Nine season starting in April.
The signing of the 24-year-old whiz complements the Brethren's acquisition of Joe Williams and Steve Morris – and definitely puts the team in the frame for the premiership.
Significantly, the move from Group Four on the north coast also allows Trindall to link with a club he nimbly sidestepped in 2011.
After making a sensational impact with Southcity in his debut Group Nine season in 2009, Trindall abruptly shifted to Wee Waa the following year.
In late 2010, however, Trindall was trumpeted as a gun recruit for Brothers, but the deal fell through.
Recalling those dramatic events, Trindall said his life was "all over the shop" at the time.
"I'm bit more settled now," Trindall said yesterday.
"I'm all signed up with them (Brothers) and looking forward to having a good year."
Returning to Wagga after a four-year break, Trindall admits he is expecting the Group Nine premiership to provide a "bit of challenge".
"It's going to be a tough competition, but I'm really excited," he said.
"It looks as if Southcity and Albury will be the teams to beat again.
"I haven't seen Albury play but I've heard a lot about them."
Like Brothers, Southcity has also recruited strongly in the off-season, boosting its pack with notables including Nick Skinner and Zac Merritt.
In contrast, Albury has been quiet in the player market, and will virtually stick with the same team that won the premiership last year.
For Brothers, meantime, there has been an emphasis on signing stylish inside backs, with Trindall, Williams and Morris all at home in the halves.
Trindall yesterday admitted he was keen to play in his specialist halfback position, but would be prepared to compromise and switch to fullback.
"I'll play wherever is best for the team," he said.
"I played a bit of fullback when I was younger, but prefer it in the halves."
Trindall comes to Brothers with an impressive record with Wee Waa, including steering the team to the Group Four preliminary last year.
News of Trindall's move to Wagga came the day after Brothers co-coach Adam Vanzanten quit the team to take up a post with the NRL in Kiama.
Ball-playing star Blake Dunn has stepped into the void left by Vanzanten and will share the coaching role with Adam Perry.
Brothers will open the Group Nine premiership with an Anzac Day blockbuster against Kangaroos at Robertson Oval.
Between times, Trindall will try to earn pre-season selection points to put his case for playing halfback in the premiership.