Catalans sign Jeff Lima


 
 

Catalans Dragons have signed today the South Sydney Rabbitohs prop Jeff Lima on a three-year contract.

Lima, 31, made his first grade debut with the Wests Tigers in 2004 before moving to the Melbourne Storm where he played in three Grand Finals, winning two in 2007 and 2009. Lima recorded 98 NRL appearances and scored 8 tries before shifting to Wigan at the end of the 2010 season where he made 61 Super League appearances and scored 6 tries.

Jeff Lima is the ideal profile who fulfills all the criteria I was looking for. He is a consistent and aggressive prop and a real leader both on and off the field.” Said Laurent Frayssinous

The negociations to sign him were hard but I’m delighted to sign a such quality player.”

He is a respected player in the Super League and NRL and he has a great experience of the big games. He will bring us a lot during the next three seasons.”

After a successful stint with the Warriors, winning the 2011 Challenge Cup and the Lance Todd Trophy as man-of-the-match in his first season at the club, he returned to the NRL with South Sydney.  He made 20 appearances during the 2013 season with the Rabbitohs, scoring one try.

He is also a former New Zealand international prop. He made 6 appearances under the kiwi jersey. In 2008, he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup but was sidelined of the competition through injury.

In 2013, he played for the Samoa in their 2013 Test match against Tonga.

We were looking for a high profile player to replace Rémi Casty in the pack and we are really satisfied to sign Jeff Lima. He has a valuable experience of the NRL and the Super League and he will be a great addition to our squad.” Christophe Jouffret, Catalans CEO.