Parramatta are expected to sign hooker Matt McIlwrick this week after the back-up dummy-half was released by South Sydney on Monday.

The 27-year-old, who has spent time at five NRL clubs in the past six years, will offer the Eels much-needed depth in the hooking role after their No.9 stocks were hit hard this off-season.

Rookie Reed Mahoney was asked to get through 65 minutes in Sunday’s season-opening win over Parramatta, with Kaysa Pritchard currently on indefinite lead after suffering a number of injury setbacks.

The club also missed out on the contract of Issac Luke before the beginning of the season, while Cameron King was released at the end of last season.

Utility Will Smith spent time out of dummy-half at the end of Sunday’s win over Penrith, but has started at hooker just once in his 49-game NRL career and is not a natural rake.

Meanwhile, the Eels were still waiting on scans on forward Nathan Brown’s injured pectoral muscle, amid fears he could require surgery and miss up to three months of action.