Told he was unwanted at the St George Illawarra Dragons, Mitch Rein was on the hunt for a new club.
Several options loomed but it was the Penrith Panthers who won the race for his signature, signing the hooker on a 2-year old.
Rein has played 132 NRL games and is excited to add to that total at the Panthers.
“I am really excited to be joining the Panthers,” said Rein.
“It’s a young team with so much potential and the facilities are world-class, like nothing I have ever seen you in the NRL.
“I can’t wait to join the squad in pre-season and get started in 2017.”
Hailing from Kiama, the signing of Rein gives the club further hooker depth and is a signing that Executive General Manager Phil Gould is pleased about.
“It is very much to our club’s advantage to pick up a high calibre player for great value just prior to the commencement of our pre-season training program,”said Gould.
“Mitch is a representative class player and will provide our roster with tremendous depth and competition in key positions. I’d also like to think this could turn into a long term association down the track.”
“For now though, we are delighted to welcome Mitch to the Panthers. It is a tremendous signing.”