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Experienced players join Roosters

Four experienced players have been added to the Roosters' playing roster for the start of the rugby league season next Sunday, April 14, following the retirement of a number of long-standing players at the end of last season.

The new players are led by former ARL player Josh White, who has been with the Wyong Kangaroos for the past two seasons

Josh, along with some of his close team mates, was looking for a fresh start in 2002 and is understood to have eagerly jumped at the chance to link up with the Roosters.

The decision of White to link with the club was the catalyst for Shane Wilson, Dean Hutchinson and Mick Burley to sign with the club.

"The signing of Josh, Shane and Mick Burley will replace the experience which we lost with the retirements," coach Tony Clarke explained.

"Dean Hutchinson has the skill and speed to fill any position in the backline.

"He scored something like 18 tries last season for Wyong so he will give us value wherever he plays.

"We have got some great young guys like Scott Wilesmith, Adam Moore, Layne Martin, Troy McLellan and Adrian Overton ready to make the step up, so we really didn't need to go looking too far".

For many seasons, Josh White competed at the highest levels of Rugby League.

Stints with Canterbury-Bankstown,Western Suburbs and Illawarra in the ARL preceeded his extensive overseas travels which included a highly successful run with Salford in the UK.

For the past two seasons Josh has been with the Wyong Kangaroos under the coaching of his brother Kyle.

Josh said: "At the end of last year, I had pretty well had enough of the game, but a bit of a break at the end of the season and a positive chat with Tony Clarke made me think that I still had a bit to offer."

The season 2002 kicks off next Sunday with the clash against the Terrigal Sharks at Duffys Rd.

Peter Read, April 4