A few weeks ago it seemed like it was a done deal for Matt Parcell with regards to a return to the NRL and former club Brisbane Broncos.
However, he has now completed a u-turn on the matter signing a two year deal at Hull KR which will keep him at the club until the end of 2024 two seasons into new coach Willie Peters’ initial three-year deal at the club making Parcell a bedrock for the side going forward and their new era.
Parcell joined the Robins midway through 2019 as Leeds swapped him for Shaun Lunt to open quota space for the arrivals for Rob Lui and Rhyse Martin. Since then, he’s had major success at the Robins. He helped steer them away from relegation in that first season at the club before helping them to semi-finals in 2021 and 2022 including a first ever Super League semi-final appearance last season.
If there are still any doubts about the magnitude of this signing for Hull KR, then a surprising statistic should knock them aside.
Parcell holds the Super League record for the most tries in a season from a number nine. He reached this tally in 2017 as he helped Leeds Rhinos finish second in his first season with the club. He scored 17 tries in total that campaign including a hat-trick against Warrington at Headingley in a 40-0 triumph over the Wolves.
2017 BEST HAT-TRICKS
BIG night for Matt Parcell 🦏
His first Headingley hat-trick for @LeedsRhinos 🏉🏉🏉 pic.twitter.com/ZU82opMm29
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) December 20, 2017
His form helped Leeds turn the corner after a disastrous 2016 campaign. He was included in the 2017 Dream Team and then went on to help Leeds win the Grand Final against Castleford at the end of the season.
So, it was somewhat surprising seeing Parcell allowed to leave less than 24 months later but the decision has worked for both sides and more success is set to come for the Australian number nine.
