Champion returns to the Bunnies

Updated January 08, 2013 15:19:50

South Sydney junior Beau Champion will return to Redfern for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, the NRL club announced on Tuesday.

Champion will re-join the Rabbitohs after being granted an immediate release from his contract with Gold Coast.

The former representative centre was pushed out of Souths before the 2011 season to create room under the salary cap for the arrival of Greg Inglis from Melbourne, after the Queensland and Australian representative's deal with Brisbane fell over.

But the 26-year-old Champion returns to Souths as the club bids to find an effective centre combination after Inglis' spectacularly successful move to fullback.

"I'm over the moon at having the opportunity to return to South Sydney," Champion said in a statement.

"(It is) the club where my career began, the team which I supported as a kid and the club which I've always dreamed of playing for," Champion said.

"I appreciate everything the people at the Titans and Storm have done for me over the past two years, and I think my time at both clubs have made me a better player and better person."

Champion spent 2011 with Melbourne and last year with the Titans.

The release of Champion by the Titans has fuelled speculation the Gold Coast club are moving in on Penrith representative centre Michael Jennings.

Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire welcomed Champion's return to the Rabbitohs.

"Beau is a very experienced NRL player ... we're very happy to be able to add a player of his ability to our squad at this stage of the pre-season," Maguire said.

"Beau's inclusion to our squad increases the challenge for spots in our first grade team, which is always good for performance and team development.

"Beau is South Sydney, through and through."

A veteran of 90 NRL games, including 70 for the Rabbitohs from 2005-'10, Champion only played nine matches for the Titans during an injury-plagued 2012.

He has played twice for City Origin and for the Indigenous All Stars in 2010 and 2011.

AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, redfern-2016, nsw, australia, robina-4226, qld

First posted January 08, 2013 14:57:27

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Titans sign up Champion

Published:Friday, May 13, 2011 7:22 AESTExpires:Thursday, August 11, 2011 7:22 AEST

Melbourne Storm player Beau Champion has signed with the Gold Coast Titans and will move north for the 2012 NRL season.

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Tags: australian-football-league, nrl, qld

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Champion joins Idris on glitter strip

Updated May 13, 2011 11:39:00

The Gold Coast Titans will boast a lethal NRL attack next season, with Beau Champion joining young powerhouse Jamal Idris in the centres.

Champion has signed a three-year deal with the Titans, after securing a release from the final years of his contract with Melbourne for family reasons.

On Tuesday, Gold Coast re-signed veteran prop Luke Bailey for another two years, keeping him at the club until the end of 2013.

The Titans now have their radar honed on Roosters forward Nate Myles to complete an impressive shopping spree for 2012 and beyond.

The addition of Champion on top of the coup signing of Idris gives the Titans the X-factor they have been missing.

Flying young wingers Kevin Gordon and David Meade will be the big winners having Idris - who made his debut against New Zealand this month - and Champion creating opportunities inside them.

Champion said Melbourne had not been a good fit after he left South Sydney this season to help make room for Greg Inglis.

"The Storm have been fantastic with me throughout the whole process, and I'm really looking to finishing the season off well before I join the Titans," said Champion, currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.

"It's been awesome to play alongside the calibre of players that I have, but I just felt Melbourne wasn't the right thing for me off the field."

Champion said the Titans were his one and only choice.

"I've got a lot of family on the mid north coast, right from Kempsey to Coffs Harbour and up towards Ballina, so I'm happy to be closer to them.

"I also love what the Titans are about too.

"A guy like Preston Campbell epitomises what the club is about and the community is a big part of my life."

Champion said playing with someone like Idris and with other Indigenous All Stars team-mates like Campbell, Scott Prince, Greg Bird and Ryan James made the choice simple.

Being coached by John Cartwright, who he played for in City Origin last year, was another lure.

Cartwright has a high opinion of Champion.

"I've had a little bit to do with him in the past," he said.

"He's verging on State of Origin selection. He's copped an injury which has probably ruled him out this year, but he was very close to selection this year."

Titans chief executive Michael Searle, who recently pulled the pin on negotiations with star Dragons full-back Darius Boyd, was thrilled to land another big name.

"The signing of Beau is a big one for us," he said.

"He's a quality footballer and a quality person, who will add further depth to our backline for the next few years.

"The thought of him playing on one side of the field and having big Jamal on the other side of the field is an exciting one."

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, qld, robina-4226, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted May 13, 2011 11:13:00

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