Last updated at 11:42, Wednesday, 05 December 2012

Jessie Joe Parker has signed a deal to return to Whitehaven next season – and he is set to bring a couple of his Papua New Guinea international pals with him.

Jessie Joe Parker

Parker will return to the Recre in early January, pending the issuing of a visa, and he is unlikely to be alone, with two PNG props set to board the plane with him.

The centre, currently at home in PNG, made no secret that his warm welcome in the town last term made his decision to return to the club much easier.

“I love the place, the people are so friendly,” said the 27-year-old.

Parker failed to score in his first six outings after arriving at the Recre in April, but his performances improved markedly later in the season, and he crossed eight times in his next 12 games, also catching the eye in defence.

“There was a dramatic improvement over the last couple of months of the season after he moved to left centre,” said chief executive Barry Richardson.

“Jessie is very capable of playing in the Championship and we are pleased to have him back.

“It was always the deal that after our last match he would go home to be with his family. He has children aged three and one, and you can understand why he wanted to go back to them.”

The paperwork in the UK has been rubber-stamped, and Parker is now awaiting a visa, issued from Manilla, in the Philippines.

“Jessie submitted his application two weeks ago and pending that matter, he will be over here in the first week in January,” Richardson added.

Parker is likely to form a centre partnership with Scott McAvoy, another proven Championship performer.

Two PNG props have signed for Haven, but the deals are not complete until visas are issued, so the club are cautious over revealing details at this stage.

First published at 11:38, Wednesday, 05 December 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk