As one English forward calls time on his Raiders career, another is set to begin his own NRL dream.

Promising second-rower Matty Nicholson will tread the well-worn path from England’s Super League to Canberra in 2025 after signing a three-year contract with the club on Friday.

At age 20, the Warrington Wolves starter is already an England international and he will provide some much-needed cover for Ricky Stuart’s forward pack after skipper Elliott Whitehead announced 2024 will be his last year at the club.

After nine seasons in the NRL, the 34-year-old will next year return to the Super League with Catalan Dragons – the club from which he moved to Canberra in 2016.

“The Raiders have had some wonderful success in having young English players come to Canberra and establish themselves as NRL stars,” Raiders CEO Don Furner said.

The Super League has proved a happy hunting ground for the Raiders.

Nicholson will likely line up alongside fellow West Yorkshireman Morgan Smithies in the back row, while second-rower John Bateman, hooker Josh Hodgson and prop Ryan Sutton have also started their NRL careers in Canberra in recent years before moving to other clubs.

As a senior member of an inexperienced Raiders squad, Whitehead has battled to save his side’s ailing season.

He said he would work hard to get them back into finals contention and flagged a willingness to return to the club in some capacity in the future.

“I’ve been able to have a wonderful career with the Raiders and to finish my time with the club as captain is something I’m very proud of,” he said.

“The players, staff and club made me feel welcome since the moment I arrived and, with my family on the other side of the world, the club has become my second family.”

Whitehead has played 198 games for the Raiders, including their 2019 grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters.