Moodie to join Tigers for Pre-Season Training

Former winger Jason Moodie will join Wests Tigers in pre-season training for 2007.

Moodie, 32, played 23 games for Wests Tigers in 2004 before retiring from the NRL. He has played 164 career games following stints with Newcastle Knights (1997-99) and Parramatta Eels (2000-03).

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens said whether Moodie plays next season depended on him being injury-free and his desire to want to play at first grade level again.

“Jason is coming out of a short retirement. He played country football last year before being injured but he has agreed to come out of retirement,” Sheens said.

“I am looking at his competitiveness and his experience to support some of our young outside backs.”

“Jason will start training here next week. The rest of the Wests Tigers players will continue to train up until the grand final.”

Sheens also ended speculation over utility Chris Walker and half-back Brett Seymour joining the Wests Tigers.

“The club is not going that way with Chris or Brett,” Sheens said.

Sheens said talks about winger Pat Richards returning to Wests Tigers was still in the hands of his manager and English Super League club, Wigan.

“We are not actively pursuing it. It is a matter of what Wigan decide to do. If they are going to move Pat on, we are interested. He knows that,” Sheens said.

“If they are not, there is nothing we can do about it.”