WIDNES VIKINGS have taken their recruitment drive Down Under for the third time in two months by signing centre Liam Williams from Melbourne Storm, where he has been playing for the second team in the New South Wales Cup.

The 22-year-old follows Souths Logan Magpies pair, forward Max Banditt and fullback or centre Byron Johnson, to the Vikings, who finished fifth and reached the third stage of the play-offs after making the 1805 Cup final.

Like those two, who were operating in the Queensland Cup, with Banditt arriving in August and making five Widnes appearance this year, Williams has signed a deal to the end of 2027 with a further one-year option.

He progressed through the Melbourne system, playing in the Under 21s before elevation to the NSW Cup squad. This year he featured 20 times and scored seven tries.

“I’m super-excited to join a club with such a rich history and such passionate supporters,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to getting over and getting straight to work. There’s a strong foundation at the club, so hopefully I can just come in and add to that.

“Hopefully I can add some energy and my skill set to the group. They have had a great year, so hopefully we can build on that and win some silverware, which is what the fans deserve.”

Coach Allan Coleman (pictured), who also had Australian forward Morgan McWhirter in his squad, said: “Liam is a really exciting player with bags of ability, a real natural, right-sided centre.

“He’s tough and aggressive defensively while also offering a lot of options in attack, and he was very keen to come.

“He’s highly thought of at Melbourne, and I think maybe they see him (returning) in the future.”