Hull KR confirm capture of Matt Parcell for 2020

James Messenger 15 Oct 2019 12:04 PM

Hull Kingston Rovers have confirmed that hooker Matt Parcell has signed a one-year deal at the club.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at the club from Leeds Rhinos towards the end of the 2019 campaign.

Although a shoulder injury restricted the Australian to just five appearances, he scored crucial tries in victories over his then-parent club Leeds and cross-city rivals Hull FC.

Parcell is the third new signing to be announced in a matter of days at Hull College Craven Park, following in the footsteps of Nick Rawsthorne and Kyle Trout.

“It was always the plan to stay here for 2020 so it is great to get the deal sorted and have the opportunity to work with (head coach) Tony Smith again, which I really enjoyed,” Parcell said.

“I loved the freedom that I was given to play rugby here. Tony has given me that licence to play what’s in front of me and that is when I play at my best.

“The direction that the club is heading in, with all of the new signings, is exciting and I’m happy to be a part of that.

“Since I joined towards the back end of last season, the fans were nothing but exceptional towards me and I can’t wait to be back playing for them once more.”

Robins Head Coach Tony Smith added: “We are all delighted that Matt is remaining with us. Everybody that has seen him play will know what a great asset he is to us.

“He is one of the most outstanding hookers in the game and one of the most dangerous runners too. With his experience, he adds great value to our squad.

“The hooker position is vital for us. The know-how and composure at dummy-half is crucial to the success of any team and we are grateful that Matt brings that to us.

“Matt came in late towards the back end of the 2019 season, but he did remarkably well when being thrown in at the deep end.

“However, a full pre-season here will be of great benefit to Matt – he’ll get to know our players even more and have a better understanding of how they play, and vice-versa.

“He’s already shown what he is capable of, but pre-season gives him the opportunity to exceed what he has already shown.”