Reds sign former Raider McLinden
Posted
The Queensland Reds have signed former Canberra half-back Mark McLinden after the departure of his former Raiders team-mate Clinton Schifcofske.
McLinden had been given an early release from UK rugby league club Harlequins to come back to Australia.
The Reds moved to sign the 29-year-old after the departure of Schifcofske to Irish rugby club Ulster.
Queensland Rugby Union performance manager Ben Whitaker says McLinden will play an important role in adding depth to the Reds' squad.
"A player like Mark has that experience (and) is able to fit a certain hole in terms of our squad list," Whitaker said in a statement.
"He was the right person for that position that didn't exist off-contract at the moment in rugby in Australia."
McLinden played seven years at the Raiders as a playmaker before moving onto the UK where he has enjoyed four seasons with the London Broncos and Harlequins, where he was used mainly as a full-back.
"Positionally we've obviously got some ideas about him playing in the back three but there's no reason why he couldn't play elsewhere," Whitaker said.
