NRL: Whatuira signs with Eels

Paul Whatuira. Photo / Getty Images

Former Kiwis international Paul Whatuira has signed a one-year deal with National Rugby League (NRL) club the Parramatta Eels.

Whatuira, 29, who won NRL titles in 2003 and 2005 with Penrith and Wests Tigers, respectively, spent three years with British club Huddersfield Giants but his career hit a low when he was arrested for assaulting two men last year and spent time in a psychiatric hospital.

He was set to retire after being released at his own request from his contract with the Giants following a difficult 12 months before new Eels coach Stephen Kearney, a former teammate, threw him an NRL lifeline.

Whatuira joins Chris Hicks, who last week signed a deal with his third NRL club, and Casey McGuire as new signings for Kiwis coach Kearney, all three players giving the Eels valuable experience after the departure of backs Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe (retired), Feleti Meteo, Krisnan Inu and Jonathan Wright.

Whatuira played 16 tests for New Zealand and began his career with the Auckland Warriors before a season with the Melbourne Storm, where Kearney was a teammate. He scored 22 tries in 55 games in three English Super League seasons and played in the 2009 Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

"Paul Whatuira is a proved international performer who brings class and experience to our backline and at 29 still has some good NRL football in him," Eels chief executive Paul Osborne told the club's website.

"We expect to get good mileage out of our experienced recruits like the three players who have returned from England and Carl Webb, Chris Walker and Reni Maitua, who come to the club with points to prove and undoubted ability to still make an impact in the NRL."

- NZPA