The hooker/half played for Berry-Shoalhaven Heads for the past three seasons and had a brilliant year in 2007 that won him the Michael Cronin medal.

His 2009 season was interrupted by a broken jaw which saw him miss much of the year.

Skewes signed with Mittagong last Friday after training with the club for two weeks.

The 30-year old played one year of Group 6 rugby league in 2002 with the Bowral Blues. But he said he is more excited and better prepared this time around.

“I think the first-grade competition was split back then and it was division two,” Skewes said.

“So far I’ve been impressed by Mittagong - the players seem like a good bunch of blokes.

“And last Friday was a tough session - they aren’t mucking around.”

The try-scoring dummy-half has a reputation as being quick to spot gaps up the middle of the ruck and is a hard worker in defence.

He lives and works as a truck driver in Sydney and said the travel to Berry had become too much.

Skewes also played in England for three seasons and credits former Mittagong player Dean McGladdery, himself an Englishman, for introducing him to the Lions.

Lions captain-coach Steven Baines said Skewes’ signing had bolstered the squad, although they were yet to see him in action with the ball.

“It’s been all fitness so far,” Baines said.

“We’ll wait until the week or so before our first trial match before we start doing much ballwork.”

Mittagong are scheduled to play Robertson on February 20, but the Spuddies have struggled to get players to training so far this season.

Moss Vale and Bowral are also happy with their start to 2010.