Former Hull, Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers star Jordan Rankin signs for Parramatta Eels

The full-back or stand-off moved to Tigers on loan from Huddersfield Giants in January, 2019.

He was ever-present for Castleford this season before the Covid-19 shutdown began in March, but was released from his Super League contract on May 26 in order to return home to Australia.

Rankin, who scored 10 tries in 29 games for Tigers, has signed with Parramatta until the end of 2021 and trained with them for the first time yesterday.

Eels’ general manager of football Mark O’Neill told the club’s website: “We are all excited to welcome Jordan to our squad for 2020 and 2021.

“Jordan is of sound character and brings over 160 games’ worth of experience in a number of positions across both Super League and NRL competitions.

“Jordan can also kick goals which adds depth and quality to our overall roster.”

Rankin, 28 began his career at Gold Coast Titans in 2008 and spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with Hull.

He returned to the NRL with Wests Tigers in 2016, but left midway through the following year to join Huddersfield.

Rankin said: “It’s exciting and good to be here.

“I had to go through a heap of protocol with the Covid stuff that’s going on throughout the NRL at the moment.

“That’s been a couple of hurdles to jump over the last three or four days, but I am really looking forward to the opportunity.”

Of switching competitions, he admitted: “It’s a different game in the UK.

“Beside the last couple of weeks, the NRL’s had two referees which speeds the game up a lot.

“The six-again rule has been a bit of a different one as well.

“Super League in general is renown for its attacking game, not so much defensively, but I believe that has changed over the last couple of years there.

“Coming back to the NRL, it’s playing with the best players in the world, there’s no doubt about that.

“I am looking forward to putting my best foot forward at Parramatta and giving it the best shot I can.”

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