The prop confirmed this week that he will be wearing a Tigers jumper in 2017, his signing coming as a big boost for the Group 10 club.

Verlinden, who will join Young native Jake Dawe in the front row, brings a wealth of experience to the Tigers.

He previously played in the NSW Cup for Cronulla Sharks, North Sydney Bears and the Newtown Jets and comes to Oberon after two years in England.

His overseas stint included game time for the Featherstone Rovers, Doncaster and Workington Town. New captain Luke Branighan is happy to have him on the roster.

“He’s from Sydney originally. He’s been in the NRL system for a several years and he’s played the last couple of years in England,” the five-eighth said.

“It’s a big signing, he’s a very big boy, but he’s extremely athletic as well. If he’s switched on, he’ll be hard to handle out here.

“He’s a massive boy. He’s 30 now, but he’s been in the NRL system for a number of years and was probably unlucky not to have played NRL in the past.

“His size and experience is going to be invaluable.”

The signing of Verlinden helps make up for the disappointment the Tigers experienced when failing in a bid to lure Jono Van Veen from Lithgow.

It will also help boost their forward stocks after Luke Christie-Johnson ruptured an Achilles tendon.

“It gives everyone else some confidence. It is an area where we lack a bit of depth, so it’s going to give us a massive boost. He’ll compliment Jake Dawe – who I signed from Young, he’s a fantastic front rower.

“The club’s still on the look out for some more front rowers, but it gives us a massive boost ahead of the Bathurst knockout.”

The Tigers will take on Cowra in the opening round of the Bathurst Panthers Knockout from 8pm. If successful, Branighan’s men will meet either Orange Hawks or Mudgee Dragons in Sunday’s semi-final.

Friday’s match will mark the first chance Branighan has to see his new side in action.

“We had a nines tournament that got cancelled due to [wet] weather in Sydney and we had to cancel our planned trial last week due to a wedding in town which took out about six or eight of our players,” the coach said.

“So it is our first hit out which is not convenient, but a big part of our pre-season has involved our attacking structures and how we are going to play in attack for the year.

“I left a lot of good stuff behind in Young in the Riverina area in regards to my job and everything, but I knew I was coming to a club on the rise with massive potential.

“For me too, it’s a new competition and I have to prove myself again, but they’re the type of challenges that I enjoy.”

The action in the Bathurst Panthers Knockout commences at 5.30pm on Friday and continues from 10am on Sunday at Carrington Park.