Salford City Reds have signed South Sydney Rabitohs second-rower Shannan McPherson on a three-year deal as the Reds build their squad for the 2012 season and their first at the City of Salford Community Stadium.

McPherson, 26, will arrive pre-season and join his new team-mates in time for the historic stadium switch and head Coach Matt Parish was delighted to finally get his man.

“I’ve watched Shannon for a number of years and he’s got a good career ahead of him here at Salford. He’s a good age, played a lot of NRL and he’s a hard-working, hard-running forward who will fit in well here.”

McPherson, who made his debut against the Bulldogs in 2005 has played 91 times for the Rabitohs and he will arrive in Manchester on 1 December, a week after he marries his fiance in Australia.

Parish is hopeful the Reds will be able to complete the rest of their recruitment swiftly and that the other new faces will be there to join McPherson and new assistant Coach Sean Long after the close-season break.