St Helens are set to complete the shock signing of Toronto’s Gary Wheeler after the former Saints star left Toronto Wolfpack.
TotalRL can reveal the 30-year-old is set for a surprise return to his hometown club, where he spent seven seasons at the start of his career.
Wheeler only signed a new deal with the Wolfpack at the end of last year, penning a new two year deal with the club and was one of just a handful that had been with the club since its inception.
But it’s understood he has come to a mutual agreement with the club that has seen him depart, and he is now expected to return to the Totally Wicked Stadium later this week.
He played for Saints in their 2011 Grand Final defeat and made 58 Super League appearances for the club before joining Warrington in 2015.
Injuries meant he managed just 12 appearances in two years for the Wolves and he subsequently joined Toronto in 2017 ahead of their maiden campaign in League 1.
His time with Toronto has also been riddled by injuries, restricting him to just 29 appearances in more than three years with the club.
However, that has not put Saints off bringing home the utility back, with his return expected to be announced shortly.
Saints centre Mark Percival is set for several months on the sidelines as he recovers from shoulder surgery while his replacement, James Bentley, has picked up an ankle injury.
It means Wheeler will provide depth for Saints, and frees up some much neeeded salary cap space for Toronto, who confirmed the return of young Canadian, Quinn Ngawati, on Tuesday in a deal that will not affect their salary cap after clubs agreed to a dispensation that allows them to sign two Canadians under the age of 21 salary cap free.
