Parramatta’s squad is set to be bolstered by the addition of Josh Hodgson and Bailey Simonsson, with the deals paving the way for Nick Cotric to return to Canberra.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hodgson will sign a two-year deal and is expected to join the Eels for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, while Simonsson has accepted a three-year deal.
Canberra is expected to pick up a part of Simonsson’s salary for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
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The additions of Hodgson and Simonsson will be welcome at the Eels after losing Reed Mahoney to the Bulldogs as well as Isaiah Papali’i to the Wests Tigers and Marata Niukore to the Warriors.
After coming across from the Super League in 2015, Hodgson has played in 137 NRL games for Canberra, scoring 14 tries.
Simonsson will leave the Raiders having made 45 appearances and scored 16 tries after making his debut in 2019.
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Cotric will return to the club where he started his NRL career in 2017 just one year after signing a three-year, $600,000-a-year deal with the Canterbury Bulldogs.
The 23-year-old’s sole season at the Bulldogs was a forgettable one, with the club winning just two out of the 14 games he appeared in. Cotric scored three tries in 2021.