St Helens have announced the signing of Manly prop Josh Perry on a three-year contract.

The 29-year-old, who began his NRL career with Newcastle and has spent the last three seasons with the Sea Eagles, is the Saints' first signing for 2011.

"I'm really looking forward to joining St Helens and in particular playing alongside James Graham," said Perry, who was encouraged to make the move by his Manly team-mate Jamie Lyon, who had two successful seasons at Saints in 2005 and 2006.

"Saints are a club with a long and proud history and a winning culture. I've been fortunate enough to play in NRL grand final-winning teams at both Newcastle and Manly Sea Eagles and it's my ambition to do the same in England.

"My team-mate Jamie Lyon tells me he had two of the best years of his life at St Helens and I hope it's the same for me."

Perry played for NSW in the opening State of Origin fixture but was dropped for the second game in Brisbane on Wednesday.

His career was at a crossroads when he left Newcastle in acrimonious circumstances in 2008.

But the hulking prop has resurrected his representative career at Manly, playing for NSW and Australia and helping Manly win the 2008 premiership.

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