The NRL market has been in full swing for 2023 with several stars switching clubs ahead of the new season.
NRL.com takes a look at the major transfers and how your club will benefit from a star arrival.
Danny Levi (Raiders)
- Age: 25
- Position they’ll fill: Hooker
- Contracted until: 2024
What Levi can bring
The final addition to the Canberra squad for season 2023, hooker Danny Levi has returned from a one-year stint in the United Kingdom intent on adding to his 112 NRL games.
The former New Zealand representative hooker has signed a two-year deal with the Raiders and last featured in the NRL in 2021 for the Brisbane Broncos, playing nine games. That year, he also claimed the Hostplus Cup title in Queensland while playing with Norths Devils.
A former Knight, Levi debuted with the club in 2015 and played 83 games during his five seasons at Newcastle, before adding 20 more NRL games to his resume during his 2020 season at Manly.
Levi joins the Raiders from Huddersfield in the English Super League after featuring for Samoa in their history-making Rugby League World Cup campaign, playing in four matches before withdrawing from the squad prior to the semi-final against England due to family reasons.
Why it will work
While the Raiders do have some depth in their dummy half ranks already despite the loss of Josh Hodgson to the Parramatta Eels with the likes of Zac Woolford and Tom Starling likely to feature in Round 1, there is no harm in shoring up such a key position, especially with a player with the level of experience of Levi.
Canberra also have promising youngster Adrian Trevilyan on their books, but he is recovering from injury and not expected to return until mid-season.
While Starling used to be behind Levi when they were both at Newcastle, this year, it will instead be Levi who will be working to push those considered to be in front of him to perform at their best.
In making the announcement of Levi's signing, Raiders CEO Don Furner said the addition of the former Māori All Stars representative to the squad provided the club with an experienced player in an important position.
“We’re really pleased to secure Danny Levi for the next two seasons, with his experience and skill at hooker providing us with another quality player in that position in the NRL squad,” Furner said.