St Helens’ target Tom Starling is free to negotiate with the Super League club, according to his Canberra Raiders head coach Ricky Stuart, with a deal expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

It was reported in late September that Saints were pursuing Starling with reports from down under even suggesting that a three-year deal had been inked, but Starling’s NRL head coach Ricky Stuart has now provided a fresh update.

Stuart has explained that the club wanted to hold off any approving any Starling exit until after the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII game last weekend, in which their starting hooker Owen Pattie was playing.

Pattie came through that game unscathed and that’s seen Stuart indicate that Starling is free to ‘proceed with his St Helens negotiations’, according to reports from The Canberra Times.

With Pattie unscathed from his latest outing, Stuart explained: “Tommy’s got the all clear to proceed with his St Helens negotiations.

“Tommy and I had a really mature conversation about exactly where he stood and I totally understand his position, Tommy has a career to run as well and he had an opportunity with St Helens and he totally understands where Owen Pattie is at.”

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Tom Starling closes in on St Helens switch

Starling is a 156-game NRL veteran and will provide very experienced support to Daryl Clark out of nine, however, he will also become the club’s 11th overseas quota player.

That will create a headache and signal that one of those contracted players will have to depart with Starling’s move all but confirmed. The hooker even teased the move recently by sharing an Instagram story with ‘Annie’s Song’, the Saints’ anthem, playing.

Continuing to explain Starling’s move, Stuart said: “When Tom confronted me about the opportunity with St Helens, I totally get it.

“He’s still young enough to be playing for a number of years still and he’s got a good opportunity with the Super League instead of sitting back here behind Owen. I can keep him for depth but it’s the wrong thing to do by the individual.

“He’s done a lot for the club and it’s our time now to give Tommy that opportunity to keep his career alive and healthy.”