JOSH DRINKWATER has admitted that he will be leaving Warrington Wolves at the end of the 2024 Super League season.
Drinkwater, who joined the Cheshire club ahead of the 2023 season, is off-contract at the end of the year, but that deal will not be renewed.
The 31-year-old has explained why the decision to leave Warrington makes sense for all of those concerned, especially with the emergence of teenage halfback Leon Hayes, with new head coach Sam Burgess preferring the latter in his starting line-up prior to Hayes’ injury.
Now Drinkwater has explained the move.
“I’m off contract at the end of the year and I won’t be staying at the club. I’ve had that conversation with Sam and obviously it makes sense for them to move forward with Leon there. He is doing a great job, a local grown junior and I’m really happy for him,” Drinkwater told League Express.
“From a business side of thing and a salary cap point of view, it makes no sense for me to stay and I also want to play each week.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here, I don’t have a bad word to say about the club or the people in it. I’ve met some great people, it’s just the way rugby league is.”
Drinkwater will not retire.
“I’m going to keep playing, I’m not ready to retire and I love training. Whatever happens over the next few weeks, happens.
“My first priority is to make the team week in, week out, but a week is a long time in rugby league so I will just take it as it comes and see where it goes.”
Drinkwater has become a key figure for the Wolves in 2024 following Hayes’ injury, though a number of weeks were spent on the sidelines with a quad tear.
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