HE has worn the red and white of Poland and the Illawarra Cutters, now Bathurst league talent Harry Siejka will wear those same colours in Group 10.
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Siejka, along with Clay Priest, is one of the big signings that the Mudgee Dragons hope will see them go one better in the Group 10 premier league competition after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Bathurst Panthers in last year's grand final.
Siejka, a Bathurst-born half, played four NRL games with the Penrith Panthers throughout 2011 and 2012.
He was part of the NRL squads for both the New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons following that and not being able to make their starting sides, headed to England.
In England he spent time at three professional sides - Wakefield, Featherstone and Bradford - from 2014-2015.
He also has international caps for Poland, starring when they won the trophy final at the 2018 Emerging Nations World Championships in Australia.
Priest's NRL credentials run slightly deeper as the big man played 31 games with the Canberra Raiders in 2016-17 before wrapping up his professional career with an eight-game stint for the Bulldogs in 2018.
Siejka and Priest have a history together which makes the former Bathurst Panthers junior excited to link with him at Mudgee.
"I roomed with Priesty out west," Siejka said.
"We played together at Mounties and he's a freak of an athlete and really fit as well."
Siejka spent 2019 working in the mines at Sydney and while he had his sights set on a return to Bathurst this season, he was able to pick up a similar job near Mudgee.
"Bathurst wouldn't have really suited with work and Mudgee's a wonderful town," Siejka said.
"When I was talking to Spaz [Sebastian Flack] last year about coming out, I knew Jack [Littlejohn] was at the club and that was definitely a huge bonus for me.
"He did a really good job coaching last year and took a team that didn't do too well in 2018 to making a grand final in 2019.
"He's got a heap of skill and obviously knows how to get the best out of his players."
The former Bradford Bull made his unofficial return to the paddock during the Bathurst Knockout and even though he felt a bit out-of-sorts, he's confident he'll return to his best once he gets some more playing time under his belt.
"I've only had two or three training sessions with the boys so I was definitely a bit rusty," he said.
"I didn't feel out of place at all... I just need to get out there and get my timing back."
At this stage, the start of the Group 10 season is being held off until at least May 1.
