James Segeyaro will join the Sharks as soon as this week and the talented hooker is expected to be named later today in coach Shane Flanagan’s 21-man squad to play the Eels.

After being granted permission to officially train with the club late last week, Segeyaro has been provided with a release from UK SuperLeague Club the Leeds Rhinos and once his new contract has been registered by the NRL will be eligible to turn out for the Sharks.

The new contract with the Sharks will be for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Having played 103 games in the NRL, 70 for the Panthers and 33 in North Queensland as a Cowboy, Segeyaro moved to the UK midway through the 2016 season where he would play 10 games for the Rhinos.

His signing ends months of speculation with Flanagan looking forward to having him on board and to be assisting youngster Jayden Brailey in the Sharks hooking role.

“I’m excited to have him in my squad,” Flanagan said. “James has missed a fair bit of training and we probably won’t see the best of him for a few weeks however he is a quality player and one that will certainly add something to our team.

“He gives us some real competition at hooker and Jayden (Brailey) will need some help during the year and James will provide that.”

An exciting ball runner and a dangerous attacking weapon, Segeyaro led the Panthers in line breaks in 2014, a year in which he was named Dally M Hooker of the Year. He has scored 34 tries in his 103 top grade games.

A Papua New Guinea international, Segeyaro played just four matches for the Panthers in 2016 before moving to Leeds where he ran out for the Rhinos on 10 occasions.