It's official: rugby union hard man Andew Moodie is officially a Bear.
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North Tamworth captain-coach Scott Blanch revealed that the veteran had ended his highly successful stint with Pirates to return to his former club.
Blanch said Moodie, a rugged No.10 and a member of Pirates' three straight premiership triumphs, brought experience, versatility and toughness to the reigning five-time Group 4 champions.
The skipper said: "He's been keen, turning up to training and ripping in. So that's all you can ask."
Blanch added: "He whacks pretty hard in 'D' [defence] and runs the ball very hard … those couple of things he'll bring to the side."
Blanch said he was unsure at this stage where Moodie would play, although it was unlikely to be five-eighth. That is where Blanch, the reigning Group 4 player of the year, operates from.
"I couldn't tell ya at the moment [where he will play]," Blanch said. "I'm trying to get everyone fit and healthy and we'll sort of decide when we get a bit closer [to the start of the season] what we'll do."
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In late December, The Leader reported that there was a good chance Moodie would join Norths.
Moodie declined to comment at the time, and was unavailable for comment on Wednesday. Last year he said he wanted to keep playing until age 40. He was 35 at the time.
The former Pirates captain and NSW Cockatoo's previous stint in league was a one-year association with Kootingal-Moonbi, with him rejoining Pirates after being a member of the Roosters' golden-point grand final defeat of Werris Creek in 2015.
He was then integral to Pirates' premiership three-peat, and was named player of the 2017 grand final.
Having beaten Gunnedah 34-28 in last season's grand final, the coming season presents Norths with the chance to win six straight titles.
Blanch said the turn-up to training had been "really positive" since Christmas. "And, yeah, there's a good mix again of youth and experience," he added. "Things are going well."
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