Whitehaven Rugby League are delighted to announce the signings of Lachlan Lanskey, Lasarusa Tabu and Josh Eaves on deals for the 2023 Championship campaign.
Forward Lachlan Lanskey comes to the club having come through the junior systems at NRL side Brisbane Broncos as well representing Queensland at Under 16’s, Under 18’s and Under 20’s. Interim CEO Ashley Kilpatrick spoke saying “We’re delighted to able to bring a player of the quality of Lachlan over from Australia. He comes highly recommended to us. Lachlan has played for Queensland at 16s,18s and u20s also been at Brisbane right through their systems and people in Australia tell us he was very unlucky to not play Nrl for them. He’s been playing for Brisbane Tigers in the Queensland cup. Speaking to Lachlan he’s excited to get over he was meant to come over a couple of years ago to a Super League side but that move fell through for him at the time. He’s a back rower but can play in the middle if we need him too.”
Fijian prop forward Lasarusa Tabu joins the club having being playing in the Elite 1 competition in France since 2017 for Albi, Villeneuve and latterly Carcassonne and had been named on train on squad for Fiji for this year’s World Cup but missed out on selection for the final squad.
Kilpatrick spoke of Tabu’s signing saying “We are ecstatic to be able to bring Las over, he has been playing in France in Elite 1 for the past few seasons. Las is a big rough front rower your typical Fijian front rower he hits hard and runs even harder, I really can’t wait to see him play for us. Following speaking to Las he’s excited to get over to the UK and show what he can do.
I’d like to thank the Vice Presidents for helping help get Lachlan & Lasarusa over for us and for their continued support.”
The final signing sees the return of Josh Eaves to the club for his second spell after making his professional debut with the club back in 2018 after signing on loan from St Helens. The hooker made 23 appearances scoring 8 tries in the League 1 campaign. In 2022 Eaves spent the season at Championship rivals Newcastle Thunder scoring 8 tries in 27 games including a try in both encounters against Haven.
Kilpatrick was thrilled when speaking about Eaves saying “it’s great to get Evo (Josh) back to the club, he was good for us when he was on loan here in 2018 and he tells me loved his time here then. Obviously with what’s happened at Newcastle Josh sees his future away from there and has signed for us. He has played in Super League since his time with us for St Helens, Leigh and Wakefield and this season has became an established Championship hooker in his time at Newcastle.”
