Matty Nicholson opted to knock back another season at Warrington under Sam Burgess in favour of heading over to the nation’s capital to play for Canberra.
The young backrower inked a three-year contract at the Raiders and will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Super League exports Elliott Whitehead and John Bateman.
Nicholson left the UK with under 50 appearances to his name in the top grade. And Burgess noted how he’d have ideally kept the England international for one more year to help him develop some elements of his game.
2025 PREDICTED TEAM LISTS : Broncos | Raiders | Bulldogs | Dolphins | Sharks | Titans | Sea Eagles | Storm | Knights | Cowboys | Eels | Panthers | Rabbitohs | Dragons | Roosters | Warriors | Tigers
Sam Burgess highlights area of improvement for NRL import Matty Nicholson at the Raiders
"He’s got a bit to learn but he’ll certainly do that in the NRL," Burgess told SEN.
"I’d have loved to have kept him for one more year and then send him over with another 12 months of hard work (behind him).
"I’d try to fix up his physicality but he’ll do that there at Canberra and I’m sure we’ll see a lot of him play."
Burgess knows what it takes to make the transition from the Super League to the NRL after becoming a legendary figure Down Under.
The forward left Bradford in 2009 to join South Sydney after making 88 appearances for the Bulls.
He went on to play just shy of 200 games for the Rabbitohs across two separate stints, which also included a famous starring display in the grand final during their 2014 premiership victory.
Nicholson is the latest in a long line of English recruits during the tenure of Ricky Stuart.
Yet while Whitehead has now left to re-join the Catalans Dragons, the former skipper’s exit has paved the way for an opportunity for the Halifax-born product to break into the starting side.
Nicholson will likely be vying with Zac Hosking for the vacant spot on an edge.
"I think he’ll go really well," Burgess declared.
"He’s obviously very young, he’s only 21 or 22 I think. He’s a great athlete, he’s fit and he’s a student of the game, so I’d love him to go over and do well."
