Stacey Jones returns to Warriors

New Zealand rugby league great Stacey Jones will make a shock return to the New Zealand Warriors next season.

Jones, 32, has announced he has come out of retirement and signed a one-year deal with the National Rugby League club he represented for 11 seasons.

An approach by Warriors coach Ivan Cleary and a recent taste of top level football with the All Golds invitation team against New Zealand Maori in New Plymouth last month had convinced the playmaking halfback to make a return.

Nicknamed The Little General, Jones has played 46 Tests for New Zealand along with 238 NRL games for the Warriors from 1995 - their foundation season - to 2005.

He officially retired in October last year after seeing out his career in France playing for Super League club Catalans Dragons.