Exclusive: Former St Helens outside back Josh Simm signs for Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Josh Simm, who left St Helens following the conclusion of the 2022 season, will be moving to Wynum Manly Seagulls in Australia’s Queensland Cup next season, Serious About Rugby League can confirm.

Simm made his St Helens debut in 2019 after impressing through their academy ranks, scoring 59 tries in 43 games for the under-19s.

Overall he has made 19 appearances for Saints scoring seven tries, three of which came in a man of the match performance against Leeds Rhinos in 2020.

Simm made seven apperances for the champions in 2022 including the Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Wigan. The outside back also made a further five Super League appearances for Hull FC where he spent the second half of last season on loan, scoring two tries.

Still only 21, we can reveal Simm has made the decision to leave Super League and try his hand in Australia with the Wynum Manly Seagulls – who are one of the feeder clubs for NRL outfit Brisbane Broncos.

The Queensland Cup side have brought through the likes of Selwyn Cobbo and Richard Kennar who have both gone on to perform well in the NRL, with Cobbo earning a State of Origin call up in 2022.

With players like Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young paving the way for English outside backs in Australia, Simm will be hoping to carve out a similar path for himself down under.

Speaking exclusively about the move, he explained his decision to leave England.

“It’s a good opportunity for me and my partner,” Simm told Serious About Rugby League. “It’s exciting and it’s a big change. The competition is really good over there and I’m hopeful I can cement a position.

“I love St Helens, the place and the club. I have really enjoyed my time under some great coaches and some of the memories I’ve had will never leave me because it’s an incredible club.”

Simm is a childhood Saints fan so the decision to leave his boyhood team wasn’t easy, but after experiencing success with St Helens he decided it was time for change.

“I needed a change after the past four years with Saints,” added Simm. “Being apart of a team that has won everything was special but I feel like I have nothing to lose going over there to Australia.

“There has been a number of English lads recently who have chanced their arm and gone down under when they have lacked game time here (in England) and it has worked out well for them.

“You’ve seen some lads go from unknown over here to starters in Australia, then you have seen the likes of Dom Young called up for England so I’m going over there with an open mind.

“I’m not saying I will achieve what they have, but it has proved there are opportunities there and if you can get one and grab it with both hands then there is no limit to how far you can go.

“Like I say, I’m going over with nothing to lose but that’s not to say I won’t be doing everything I can to get noticed, because if I go over and don’t give it everything there is no point – I’m going over and I want to hit the ground running straight away.”