Former Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls star James Segeyaro has a surprise new club for the 2024 season.
After two years over in Europe, the Papua New Guinean international has returned down under to join the Western Suburbs Devils in the 2024 Illawarra Cup.
The star hooker joins the club from the Bradford Bulls having signed for them mid-season in 2023 from the French Elite One Championship.
After an impressive start to life at Odsal, his season was ended abruptly by injury as the hooker called out the tackler on social media and the lack of action from the RFL in punishment for what he felt was a hip drop tackle akin to the one from Morgan Knowles which ended the season of Wigan Warriors star Mike Cooper and incurred a five match ban.
Segeyaro’s return down under was confirmed by the Daily Telegraph: “Western Suburbs Devils have signed former NRL hooker James Segeyaro for the 2024 Illawarra Cup season.
“Segeyaro made over 150 NRL appearances for five different clubs, most recently playing abroad with the Bradford Bulls in England.
“The bulk of his NRL caps come for the Penrith Panthers, where he played 70 times and scored 26 tries.
“The 32-year-old from Papua New Guinea is the latest former NRL player to join the Devils ranks, having boasted three former first-graders last season in Sosaia Feki, Jy Hitchcox and Grant Millington.
“The no. 9 role was by no means a weakness for the Devils in 2023, with Joseph Dickson one of the form hookers of the competition last season, so it will be interesting to see where Segeyaro integrates in the squad.
“The Devils finished in third place in 2023 and were eliminated in the semi finals.”
Segeyaro will always be a divisive figure over in West Yorkshire. Despite having a strong stint at Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos fans aren’t too keen on the hooker.
The Rhinos signed him mid-season in 2016 and he had an excellent run of form as the Rhinos finished the season strongly and signed a long term deal with the club. But he would force his exit due to home sickness but Leeds would replace him with eventual Dream Team hooker Matt Parcell who would win a Grand Final and set the record for most tries in a Super League season by a hooker.
