Player movements: Orford (finally),
Hughes and Adamson

Manly is expected to today officially announce the worst kept and most dragged out signing in recent history, with Melbourne halfback Matt Orford agreeing to terms with the club on a four-year deal, ending weeks of speculation over his NRL future.

Orford has turned down offers to stay with the Storm and also a lucrative deal at South Sydney to move back to Sydney.

His manager George Mimis told Storm chief executive Brian Waldron following yesterday's meeting of NRL club CEOs in Sydney. Orford is the second Storm player to sign with the Sea Eagles, following centre Steve Bell to Brookvale.

Meanwhile, Newcastle centre Mark Hughes will join new English Super League club Les Catalans next year.

Hughes joins Canberra Raiders backrower Matt Adamson, who will today announce his retirement from the NRL to take up a position as Les Catalans' full-time strength and conditioning coach.

Bulldogs operations manager Grant Mayer will head up the club as inaugural chief executive.

Australians Ian Hindmarsh, John Wilson, Sean Rudder, Chris Beattie and Justin Murphy - along with New Zealand Test halfback Stacey Jones - have also signed for the Catalan club.