The Dolphins have injected versatility and experience to their 2023 NRL playing roster with the signing of dual threat Euan Aitken from the Warriors.
The 26-year-old former Dragon began his career as a centre but has been playing in the second row for the Warriors, and is equally adept at both positions.
He will bring that adaptable skill set to the Dolphins’ foundation playing squad after signing a two-year agreement to be part of the club’s entry to the NRL.
Aitken will not have to move far to take up the new contract with his new club.
The Warriors are already based at Redcliffe’s Moreton Daily Stadium for the 2022 NRL season, which means Aitken will train out of the same change rooms and in the same gym next year for the Dolphins.
Dolphins’ chief executive Terry Reader said Aitken would bring balance to the new team’s squad and provide depth in two very important positions.
“Euan is a strong player who will add over 150 games of NRL experience to our squad when he joins us at the end of the year,” said Reader.
“Importantly, he is skillful enough to play either centre or on the edge at second row, and that is a valuable commodity in today’s NRL competition.
“He will also be able to bring some familiarity around our home base for our new squad after spending a full season training and playing there with his current club.
“Euan and the Warriors are currently three wins from three games at our home base of Moreton Daily Stadium this season – we hope he can see the same results with the Dolphins next year.”
After making his NRL debut with the Dragons in 2015, Aitken gained national honours when he played for the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea and represented NSW Country in 2016.
As a junior he attained the highest levels of representation, turning out for both the Australian Schoolboys and Junior Kangaroos.
Euan Aitken
Born: 16 June, 1995
Place: Pambula, NSW
Height: 182cms
Weight: 96kg
Clubs: St George Illawarra Dragons (2015-20), Warriors (2021-22)
NRL games: 145
NRL Tries: 49