This weekend Wigan Warriors take on Hull KR at the home of Leeds Rhinos Headingley Stadium after the home of Warrington Wolves plays host to St Helens and Leigh Leopards as they battle for a place at Wembley.
St Helens are the Super League and World Champions but find themselves behind Leigh in the league making it a huge task for the Saints to get through them and to Wembley as they look to win a second Challenge Cup in three years as they chase four trophies in 2023.
However, in a huge blow for the Saints they will be without James Roby Roby and Mark Percival due to head knocks.
This will put a major focus on Joey Lussick at hooker but frustratingly for the Saints a story has been developing with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting that St Helens hooker Joey Lussick is being targeted by former club the Parramatta Eels.
The Eels want to bring in the hooker immediately to ease their injury woes.
This comes as former Hull KR hooker Josh Hodgson deals with an injury of his own having made the move from Canberra Raiders last year having missed his last year through injury.
It will be interesting where this transfer story goes with the club set to lose James Roby to retirement at the end of 2023.
They have targeted Warrington’s Daryl Clark for 2024 as his replacement but would also have to work to replace Lussick.
Now the Daily Telegraph in Australia has reported that he has begun negotiations with the Eels for an immediate move which will also include a contract for the 2024 season as well.
They reported:
“Eels officials are in negotiations to bring Australian schoolboys hooker Joey Lussick back to the club.
“Parramatta powerbrokers are hoping to strike a deal within the next 72 hours. The offer would also include a contract for 2024.
“Lussick, 27, played nine NRL games with the Eels in 2021 before signing with the English Super League giants, St Helens.
“His familiarity with the Eels system, the players and the coaching staff is a major lure for Parramatta to try and drop Lussick immediately back into the club’s first grade side.”
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