Eels sign hooker as Hodgson retirement looms

9 months ago 67

Joey Lussick volition articulation the Parramatta Eels for the remainder of the 2023 play aft being granted an aboriginal merchandise from the English Super League.

The 27-year-old volition instrumentality to his erstwhile nine aft 2 seasons with St Helens successful the English Super League, signing with the Eels, effectual immediately, until the extremity of 2025.

St Helens announced the star's departure connected Twitter connected Sunday, conscionable hours aft the club's nonaccomplishment to the Leigh Leopards successful the semi-finals of the Challengers Cup.

Saints manager Paul Wellen confirmed Lussick's merchandise during the post-game interview, saying: "We astatine St Helens are not successful the concern of allowing players to permission mid-contract, but erstwhile Joey's concern became delicate with him requesting his merchandise and wanting to instrumentality home, we needed to grip it with care."

St. Helens prima Joey Lussick shapes to walk the shot successful a Super League match. (PA Images via Getty Images)

The authoritative connection from the nine revealed Lussick would instrumentality to the NRL with an "undisclosed transportation fee" allowing the prima to permission immediately.

"St Helens R.F.C tin corroborate that an statement has been reached with an NRL nine for an undisclosed transportation interest which volition spot Joey Lussick permission Saints immediately," the connection said.

"The Saints person been moving connected a suitable replacement for Lussick to articulation the squad immediately, and details connected this subordinate volition beryllium confirmed successful owed course.

"The nine acknowledgment Joey for his efforts successful the Red V, and we privation him good for the future."

Lussick's accomplishment comes owed to the concern with injured Eels hooker Josh Hodgson, who suffered a season-ending cervix wounded during the club's circular 13 triumph implicit the Cowboys.

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 unrecorded and escaped connected 9Now

Eels hooker Josh Hodgson whitethorn person played his past NRL game. (Getty)

The erstwhile Eels No.9 is expected to medically discontinue by the extremity of 2023, with reports the star's wounded whitethorn necessitate further surgery.

Speaking connected Lussick's accomplishment astatine the Eels, Parramatta's General Manager Mark O'Neill said: "Joey volition adhd prime and extent to our roster. He knows our systems and coaching benignant and volition acceptable successful close wherever helium near off."

While Lussick prepares to articulation the Eels astatine grooming this week, Saints manager Paul Wellen revealed Dragons inferior Moses Mbye volition capable the No.9 jersey - with the Dragons prima granted an contiguous merchandise this week to articulation the English club.

Mbye told saintsrlfc.com helium is "keen" to articulation the club, signing with the Saints until the extremity of 2025.

Moses Mbye makes a interruption for the Dragons against St Helens. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

"I'm keen to travel implicit and larn from the existent squad and disconnected Wello (Paul Wellen) and be portion of a nine with specified a large culture," helium said.

"It's a bully accidental to travel over, adhd immoderate steadfast contention to what is already a truly palmy squad, and gain my spot.

"I cognize the expectations astatine St. Helens are precocious which is large due to the fact that we're expected to win due to the fact that of however good the squad has gone successful the past and successful caller years.

"It's come from the hard enactment they person enactment successful and I'm looking guardant to being portion of it.

"I can't hold to get implicit there, conscionable the boys and the fans and get amongst it!"

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