Josh Perry eager to start career at St Helens

Perry won the NRL title in his first season with Manly in 2008

Australian prop Josh Perry is aiming to tick off the the remaining items on his "to-do list" at St Helens.

Perry has agreed to move to Saints from Manly Sea Eagles next season and there is much anticipation surrounding his arrival both from the fans and the player.

He has played over 200 club games in his native land, a feat he says is always looked upon with honour in the NRL, but he has greater ambitions now his move to England has been finalised.

The 29-year-old has a impressive CV having played for Newcastle Knights for the majority of his career before moving to Manly in 2008 and has represented New South Wales, Country Origin and Australia.

He now says his career needs a different direction and having spoken to some of his close friends who have played at Knowsley Road, he believes a move to St Helens is they way forward.

"I spoke to Jamie Lyon and Matty Gidley and they've told me how good St Helens is," Perry told BBC Radio Merseyside. "But I'm pretty envious when we sit back here and watch the Challenge Cup and a packed house at Wembley, so that's definitely on the hit list.

"To play for such a prestigious club like St Helens and hopefully win a few trophies are the only things I have to tick off on my to-do list in my football career. If I can have half as good a time as both they did I'll be a very happy man.

"St Helens have always been one of those teams that I've always looked to since I was a kid. When Eamonn McManus [St Helens chairman] rang my manager and got in touch with us it was a dream come true that I could come over to the UK and play for St Helens.

"It was always my number one club and one I always wanted to go to."

From what Jamie and Matty have told me they are all fantastic blokes and I'm looking forward to getting over there

St Helens signing Josh Perry

When the news of Perry's signing broke, the player himself admitted he was looking forward to lining alongside fellow prop James Graham.

"He's probably the best front rower over there and he's probably up there with the best props in the world," Perry continued. "If I can get a good combination going with him its only going to be good for ourselves and for St Helens.

"I'm looking forward to getting out there and I think his nickname is Jammer, so may be we can do a little bit of that which would be nice.

"Jamie Lyon and I were rooming together in the Aussie camp a few weeks ago and we rang Paul Wellens and I've spoken to him. I know of the blokes but I don't know any of them personally.

"But from what Jamie and Matty have told me they are all fantastic blokes and I'm looking forward to getting over there."

When any player joins the squad at Knowsley Road, one of the first questions they are asked revolves around their knowledge of the history between Saints and close rivals Wigan.

The Australia international says he has been doing his homework and he is already anticipating his first taste of derby action.

"I've heard of Wigan and I've definitely heard of the rivalry," he continued. "I watched the scored on live update the other week when they played each other, so I'm pretty keen to get a plate of that.

"I quite often get on the St Helens website and see how the boys are going and just reading stuff on that you can certainly see there is quite a rivalry."

Perry hopes to arrive in England some time in November to settle into life in England ahead of pre-season training and the 2011 Super League season.