In a major homecoming for one of Newcastle's favourite rugby league sons, former Knights star Lachlan Fitzgibbon is poised to pull on the red and white jersey of his junior club for the 2026 season.
A Full-Circle Homecoming for Fitzgibbon
The Newcastle Herald can confirm the 32-year-old forward has signed with the Souths Lions, marking a poignant return to where his football journey began. This move comes fresh off the back of a two-season stint with the Warrington Wolves in the English Super League, which followed an impressive 119-game NRL career with the Newcastle Knights between 2015 and 2023.
Fitzgibbon, who returned to Australia late last year after marrying Sophie Hanlon in November, will now find himself running out at Townson Oval in the coming months. His signing represents a significant coup for the Lions, who finished eighth in the most recent first-grade competition.
Strategic Boost for Souths Lions
This homecoming aligns perfectly with the club's long-held hopes. Souths president Steve Young expressed his desire for Fitzgibbon's career to "start and finish at Souths" back in September, as the player concluded his time overseas. The signing is strategically valuable under the local NEWRL player points system, where Fitzgibbon, as a club junior, is valued at zero points.
This frees up the Lions, along with other clubs that missed the 2025 semi-finals like Central, Kurri Kurri, Macquarie, Lakes, and the Northern Hawks, to also secure a marquee signing. For context, Fitzgibbon would have cost a top-five side a hefty 30 points from their game-day allocation.
Experience and Leadership for Townson Oval
Fitzgibbon brings a wealth of top-level experience back to the local competition. During his time at the Knights, he scored 32 tries in his 119 appearances. His English adventure with Warrington saw him play 41 games, featuring in back-to-back Challenge Cup finals at London's iconic Wembley Stadium and even a trip to Las Vegas in 2025.
He is not the only familiar face set to bolster the Lions' ranks for 2026. The club is also expecting returns from James Taylor (Northern Hawks) and Lewis Hamilton (Singleton), while securing the services of Max Buderus (from Wyong) and Quincy Ross (from Hawks). The squad will continue to be mentored by coach Andrew Ryan, who guided them to the 2023 decider.
In other player news across the Newcastle Rugby League, Central Newcastle announced the signing of World Cup representative Jake Maizen, while Scone Thoroughbreds have former professional prop Mitch Garbutt on board as coach. Fitzgibbon's former Knights teammate, Sione Mata'utia, lined up for Lakes in 2025.
For Lachlan Fitzgibbon, the upcoming season at Souths Lions promises to be a heartfelt chapter, closing the loop on a professional career that started on those very same local fields.
