True Blue and dual international winger Josh Mansour has signed a one-year deal with the Newtown Jets - the club wasting no time in getting him on the park in the famous ‘Bluebags’ jersey.
In fact Mansour gets to square-up against his old club in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – the South Sydney Rabbitohs – in his first match for the Jets with new coach George Ndaira has naming him for this Saturday’s round one match at Henson Park.
Mansour played 13 games for the Rabbitohs in NSW Cup last year, scoring nine tries.
Jets chief executive Stuart McCarthy doesn’t think Mansour’s 174 NRL-game career has ended but he’s certainly pleased to use his talents in NSW Cup as much as possible in 2023.
“He’s played State of Origin, he’s played in Grand Finals, he has years of first grade experience and I don’t think he’s finished in that space,” McCarthy told nswrl.com.au
“He’s also an international so we’ll happily have him on board.”
Mansour played seven Tests for Australia (2014-2017) and then seven for Lebanon, including five tries in four games at last November’s World Cup.
He played all three State of Origin games in 2016 – the year he was named Dally M Winger of the Year.
“Josh will be such a good mentor for some of our outside backs coming through the system,” McCarthy said.
“He’s already fitted in really well. He’s lots of fun to be around and he’s absolutely as fit as a fiddle.
“Josh’s experience and preparation for matches will be another bonus for our playing group.”
Mansour joins last year’s Player of the Match for the Norths Devils in their QRL Hostplus Cup Grand Final win over Redcliffe, Jacob Gagan (pictured above), in a new-look Jets backline.
Gagan played with the Jets in 2016 before stints with the Knights, Bears and Rabbitohs before moving north.
Trentham Petersen is the new No.1 with the exit of Lachie Miller (Knights) and the season-ending knee injury to Kade Dykes.
