JOSH Lynam is to make a dramatic return to Cougars after agreeing a deal to rejoin his hometown club for the 2015 campaign.

Back in October, the highly-regarded second-rower signed a one-year deal with Australian QRL Cup outfit Norths Devils.

He was believed to have attracted interest from neighbours Bradford Bulls but, following the end of last season, Lynam announced his decision to travel in Thailand before heading to Australia for 12 months.

Yet difficulties with securing employment forced Lynam and his girlfriend to return home and player-coach Paul March is delighted to have him back at Cougar Park.

March said: “Josh has not settled since he went out there – the people at the club he went to were supposed to sort him a job out but they haven’t managed to do so.

“He was a bit short of income so he has decided to come back and give himself plenty of time to make sure he fitted in to what we were doing.

“He will resume training back with us on January 6 and will also sign his contract that day too.

“It’s great to have Josh back. I did him a great CV because I think he’s got a lot of potential to go far in his career.

“But for me, he was going out there a couple of years too early.

“Like I say, I’m happy to have him back and ready to go for the start of the season.

“He’s a Keighley lad who wanted to see the world and so he went off to Thailand and do a bit of travelling before he went to Australia.

“He’s done that at a young age and I think that will set him up nicely in life, but I just think he went out there a year too soon.”

Lynam’s contract at the Devils had actually started and he was training with them but March added: “His missus was struggling to find work and the club were struggling to get Josh any work as well.

“Their savings were going down rapidly so I think he just needed to come back and start focusing on what we were doing next season rather than waiting until March and then struggling to find a club.

“He’s made his decision to come back and I’m happy with that. I’m sure he’ll knuckle down and be ready to go as soon as the season starts.”

A product of Cougars’ academy, Lynam made his debut for the club’s senior side on the opening day of the 2013 campaign as they were defeated 42-10 by Batley Bulldogs.

He went on to make 43 appearances, scoring 11 tries, as well as featuring in this year’s Challenge Cup quarter-final tie at Widnes Vikings.