With just over a week before the start of the 2017 season, the inclusion of the talented back rower is a further boost to what already shaped as a formidable Panthers premier league squad.

From the side which placed third last season, Panthers have added representative forward Simon Osborne, halfback Doug Hewitt and now Siejka to their ranks.

For Siejka, who played for the Western Rams during his previous stint with Panthers and won a host of Group 10 Junior Rugby League grand finals, season 2017 marks a change in focus.

“It was after 2010 that I left Panthers. Straight after school finished I went on an AIS [Australian Institute of Sport] tour, and straight after that I went down to the Roosters and played there for five seasons,” Siejka said.

“I played SG Ball to begin with, then I went into under 20s for three seasons. I was with the Roosters for another two years after the under 20s comp, our feeder club for the first year was the Newtown Jets, then they did a deal with Wyong.

“Then that all came to an end and I ended up with North Sydney Bears.

“I have just come off a pre-season with the Wests Tigers as well – so I changed club’s again – but I was just fed up and ready to move home. I was sick of the Sydney lifestyle.”

With travel involved each week another negative, Siejka’s motivation and passion for rugby league dropped.

But now as he looks ahead to a Group 10 campaign, he is excited about the prospect of lacing up his boots. 

“Obviously my goal was to get to the NRL and I got fairly close, but it just felt like those last two seasons I was getting further and further away from that and my motivation was moving away,” he said.

“I’ve played under some great coaches and playing at that level has made me a better player – hopefully I can bring that back here.

“Panthers have got some good players, so I am really looking forward to this season. It is good to come back to my junior club.”

Despite his long absence, there are some familiar faces for Siejka.

“I’m looking forward to playing with Dougie [Hewitt]. I played all my juniors with him and we won a fair few comps together, we won every year in juniors, so hopefully we can translate that this season,” he said.

“Oberon have signed Ryan Verlinden who I played with at Newton.”

Siejka will make his Group 10 return next Sunday at Carrington Park when the Panthers host Lithgow Workies in their season opener.