Following a 10th-place finish in the NRL, the Parramatta Eels announced five departures today, including Huddersfield Giants-bound Jack Murchie.
Murchie’s move to Super League was confirmed by the Giants in August, with a three-year contract until the end of 2026.
The 26-year-old, who played junior rugby with the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs, was granted an early release by Parramatta to join the John Smith’s Stadium with a year left on his contract.
After 45 NRL games, Huddersfield will be the Batemans Bay-born second-rower’s first taste of Super League play.
The vast majority of those came for the New Zealand Warriors, with only five for Parramatta this year and three at the start of Murchie’s career for the Canberra Raiders.
Among the Parramatta Eels exits are Jack Murchie and Josh Hodgson, a retiring ex-Hull KR veteran.
Former England and Great Britain ace Josh Hodgson, who turns 34 today, retires from 2022 NRL Grand Finalists Parramatta and takes on a teaching role in the club’s youth setup.
The Hull-born hooker played in Super League for both FC and KR before joining the Canberra Raiders ahead of the 2015 season following 134 appearances for the Robins.
Hodgson played in the 2019 NRL Grand Final for the Raiders after spending eight seasons with the club and becoming a co-captain.
And, despite having played 12 games for the Eels this season, he has been forced to retire due to medical advice.
Long-standing Parramatta head coach Brad Arthur also sees Waqa Blake, Andrew Davey, and Samuel Loizou leave the club after a poor season.
Blake has spent the last four and a half seasons at CommBank Stadium, scoring 28 tries in 77 NRL appearances.
Forward Meanwhile, Davey ends his second career with Parramatta, retiring alongside Hodgson. The Queensland-born star, who will turn 32 next month, made his NRL debut with the Eels in 2020 after quitting his full-time job as a carpenter.
Davey, who also played for Manly Sea Eagles and Canterbury Bulldogs, retires with 44 NRL matches to his record.
Finally, youngster Louizou departs after coming through the Eels youth system, arriving as a teenager and making his debut in a crushing defeat to the Penrith Panthers in 2021.
