Okul Returns to Doncaster

Alongside household names such as Adrian Lam and current Bradford Bulls' stars Marcus Bai and Stanley Gene in test matches against top international sides, Okul impressed for the 'Kumuls' and has been brought to the club primarily as an impact player. Lakers Assistant Coach Phil Windley said "It is not everyday we get the opportunity to sign a player with test experience having faced the likes of Australia and New Zealand, for nothing."

Windley added "We expect John to give impact from the bench with his physical attributes and feel that we have nothing to lose as he will be on an incentive based contract meaning if John does what he says, he will then get paid. If he dosen't, we have lost nothing."

Okul, who recently became a qualified accountant will be no stranger to Doncaster, having starred at the club in the late ninties when he proved a favorite among the supporters with his high impact running "I enjoyed my time when I was last here. I was playing well at centre back then and still enjoy running out wide so I don't mind playing Second Row."

"My main role at the club will be to give experience to the other players and provide impact from the bench. I know that if I do as well as I feel I can, I may be able to force my way into the starting thirteen as I see no problem playing the full eighty minutes."

Throughout recent weeks Head Coach Keiran Dempsey, who is currently in Australia, and Assistant Phil Windley have been working around the clock in their search for quality players that they feel can take the club to success next season. Windley, who was heavily involved in the signing of Joel Penny earlier in the week said "Both myself and Keiran speak twice a day both on the phone and via email. We both feel that we have a lot of players of the same physical size currently in the squad. John breaks that mould so we felt it would be best to give him a chance with nothing to lose."

Originally based at Mt.Hagen in Papua New Guinea and officially aged 31, John let us into a secret by telling us that one of his former international team mates Marcus Bai and Stanley Gene is older than himself and the other younger but would'nt let on which!