But Oldfield held out hope of remaining with the Canberra Raiders, which was why he was disappointed he didn't get the chance to say goodbye to a lot of people at the club.

It wasn't until after the post-season celebrations were done that it was clear he wouldn't be staying in lime green.

Now he's signed a one-year deal to join the Eels and could find himself car-pooling with Eels captain Clint Gutherson, aka "King Gutho".

The pair grew up together on Sydney's north shore and Gutherson tipped him off about a chance to fill a similar role to what he's done at the Raiders for the past four years.

"Clint was the first one who told me about the deal at Parra," Oldfield said.

"Brad [Arthur]'s been pretty transparent about where he wants me in the squad and what I can do for their club.

"It's not too dissimilar to what I was doing here at Canberra. I'm in that position where if there's any lapse in form from any of those boys there's no hesitation in throwing me in as opposed to giving them time and letting them find form."

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Oldfield has only managed 24 NRL games across those four seasons, having suffered a string of ill-timed injuries.

This year was case in point - there were plenty of opportunities in the outside backs due injuries to players like Bailey Simonsson (shoulder) and Curtis Scott (leg), but just as he strung three games together he suffered a hamstring injury himself.

He's loved his time in Canberra where he found a real community feel, with the lack of a beach the only thing he could complain about.

But he did find this season the toughest of his career - unable to visit family and friends in Sydney and no second-tier football.

"I did have some opportunity in the green. Obviously my body's let me down at crucial times," Oldfield said.

"When there was light in the tunnel for greater opportunity then I'd tear a groin back to back in one pre-season and have little hammy tears.

"Just little things that didn't disrupt the whole season, but did disrupt your momentum and how you're training and progressing, where you sit in the squad."

Oldfield was disappointed he didn't find out he was leaving until after the group had broken up for the season.

"It wasn't the way I wanted to leave and I haven't had the chance to say a proper goodbye to a lot of the people at the club that have had a big impact the last three or four years," he said.