Most of the big name free agents have locked in a new club for the 2023 season but one major free agent remains clubless and that is winger Josh Mansour.
A prolific scorer in the NRL for both Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs, he starred for Lebanon in the Rugby League World Cup where the out of contract winger expressed interest in a move to Super League.
However, he has now revealed that a move to Super League is off the table as he has to put his family first despite convincing his wife to come over to the UK during the World Cup.
“I experienced the country and the culture and I really enjoyed it,” he said on SEN Radio.
“I convinced the ‘missus’ to pack up our bags, head over and seek a new challenge.
“However, with a third child on the way, that kind of threw a bit of a curveball at me.
“I think I have to put that aside. I have to stay in Australia and stay close to family.
“My daughter is about to start kindergarten and there’s a lot going on.
“It would be too difficult.”
However, in a bizarre twist, Mansour’s future could be in politics rather than on the rugby league field.
He was approached by the NSW government to run in the upcoming state election against Labor leader Chris Minns. He was approached by the NSW Liberal Party.
He was asked to run in the seat of Kogarah, which is Labor’s most marginal seat on just 0.1 per cent after a redistribution, where he would’ve tried to unseat the opposition leader.
“It started as a conversation to see if I was interested in trying to make a difference,” Mansour told the Nine papers.
“As much as I was flattered to be considered and approached, I gave it some thought and decided against taking up the opportunity.
“I want to focus on my young family. I also still believe I have something to offer in the NRL. I’m not giving up hope of continuing my career. I’m training hard and holding out hope that an opportunity in the NRL will present itself.”
