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Elliott Whitehead says it was now or never for his move to the NRL, but the latest English recruit to make the switch is on a mission to prove he belongs in Canberra. Whitehead jokes the beer is too cold and that his new Raiders teammates can't understand his thick Yorkshire accent as he settles into his new home. But the hard-running back-rower wants to let his football do the talking as he follows a well-worn path from the UK to Australia. Whitehead is teaming up with fellow Englishman Josh Hodgson for the Green Machine and the pair has already developed a strong bond driven by a desire for success on the opposite side of the world to where they grew up. "It helps knowing Hodgo has been here and done it and guys before him and made the transition as well," Whitehead said. "In my mind it does help anyway. I know I've got to concentrate on my own game and I know what I'm capable of doing and when the time comes I've got to prove that I can step up to this level. "I believe in myself and I believe I can do it. I've just got to show it. "I'm really happy with my decision, I'm loving life here in Canberra so far. I've got no regrets ... I've always wanted to play NRL and I never had the opportunity until now. "I thought if I don't come now then I'd probably never come. That makes it special." The Raiders will lean heavily on their English duo this season as they bid to make it back into the top eight and revive their premiership chances. Hooker Hodgson re-signed with the club last week to stay in the capital until at least the end of 2018 while Whitehead is about to start a two-year deal. Hodgson impressed in his first season with the Raiders and the hope is Whitehead will follow the same path. Whitehead scored 28 tries in two seasons with the Catalans Dragons, where he played with Sam Williams and Todd Carney, and proved a threat on the Raiders' right edge in their only trial match. He's already dropped five kilograms to adapt to the faster pace of the NRL. "I'm used to doing a pre-season in the snow, not running around in the heat. But I'd prefer to train when it's 37 degrees than getting up and down and having your fingers fall off," Whitehead said. "I struggled at first but I'm used to it now. I've lost five kilos of body weight that I shouldn't have had anyway so that will help when the season kicks off." Whitehead says Hodgson is the only player that can understand his accent. "Rhys Kennedy is the worst. He lets me go on for 10 minutes before he says he's got no idea what I'm saying. "Most of them just nod, so I'm trying to talk a little bit slower. Warm beer? Your beer's too cold here." Hodgson helped Whitehead settle into Canberra and said: "Sometimes you say an English word and the other boys are just looking at you like, 'what does that mean?'. "It's good to have someone who knows what you're talking about straight away, even if you cop a bit of stick. "As soon as Elliott got here we had a chat to each other ... he seems to have settled in really well. I feel at home here, when I first came here I wondered if I'd settle. But it feels like a home away from home." Hodgson was one of the finds of the NRL season last year. The 26-year-old is determined to take his game to another level this season and avoid relaxing after making his mark on the NRL. "Every player wants to play at the top level with the top teams ... I think we've got a great squad here and a great club," Hodgson said. "This ticks all the right boxes for me personally and I'm a big believer in that you play your best rugby when you're happy. "I'll never take a step back, I'm my own biggest critic. I'm constantly working to try to be better ... I want to be the best player I can be, I don't want to fizzle out."

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