Huddersfield agree to loan Fulton

Utility forward Fulton joined Wests Tigers in 2003

Huddersfield Giants have agreed a deal in principle to sign Wests Tigers utility forward Liam Fulton.

The 24-year-old Australian is set to join Huddersfield on loan after only just signing a two-year deal with the NRL club.

Managing director Richard Thewlis said: "He will remain training with the Tigers for the time being.

"If everything goes as I would expect he will see the season out with us from around the mid point."

Fulton made 21 appearances for the Tigers in 2008 and was a Grand Final winner in 2005.

He can play back-row, loose forward or half-back.

Thewlis added: "The situation is fairly complex and it's not usually our policy to comment on player rumours.

"But the reports out of Sydney are such that I think its right to put our fans fully in the picture.

"We have an excellent relationship with the Tigers and speak to their people on a fairly regular basis.

From my immediate memory I recall the lift that a mid-season addition has given our club

Richard Thewlis

"Warren McDonnell [Wests Tigers recruitment manager] knew that Nathan Brown [the Giants head coach] has a very high opinion of Liam and that we were in the market for a utility player.

"We have all 'shaken hands' on this one which is perfectly acceptable to me whenever we deal with the Tigers.

"Most rugby fans will appreciate that getting the paperwork done for visas can be tricky and time consuming.

"It needs to involve the player and his manager, the two clubs and the RFL and NRL, as well then as border agencies.

"For this reason we do not expect to see him available for selection at the Giants until towards the middle of our season.

"From my immediate memory I recall the lift that a mid-season addition has given our club.

"I am thinking of the likes of Stanley Gene, Troy Stone, Keith Mason, Ben Roarty and Kevin Brown, all of whom were or are real fans favourites. There's no reason to think that the same can't apply to Liam."