Six Tackles: Overseas signings to watch in Super League in 2018
There are a number of overseas signings to get excited about ahead of the 2018 Betfred Super League season.
Tyrone Roberts (Warrington Wolves)
The 26-year-old is, arguably, the most exciting overseas signing for Super League this year. The half-back, centre or hooker scored 21 tries in 97 games for Newcastle Knights between 2011 and 2015.
He has made three appearances for the Indigenous All Stars and becomes Warrington’s marquee signing for 2018. He can kick goals as well and is expected to make a big impact at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Wellington Albert (Widnes Vikings)
The prop forward was brilliant for Papua New Guinea in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. He was the first ever Papua New Guinean to be signed by an NRL club in Penrith Panthers without having played junior rugby in Australia, with him plying his trade for the PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup.
He played for the Panthers reserve side but failed to make an NRL appearance. A no-nonsense prop, standing at 6ft 4in and weighing nearly 18 stone, he will be very hard to tackle. His younger brother, Stanton Albert, has also signed for the Vikings and he is one to keep an eye on as well.
Bureta Faraimo (Hull FC)
When the news broke last year that Tonga ace Mahe Fonua would be moving to Wests Tigers in the NRL, Hull fans wondered whether they would be able to bring in someone with as much power and ability as the blockbusting winger.
But they look to have done that. They’ve brought in Faraimo, 27, from the New Zealand Warriors and has previously played 15 games in the NRL. He was one of USA’s best players at the World Cup and has most recently impressed FC coach Lee Radford in a friendly against Catalans Dragons, scoring a try.
Gabe Hamlin (Wigan Warriors)
The front-rower is only 20 years of age but has a big build and impressed on the weekend against Leigh Centurions and even grabbed a try after pouncing on a grubber kick. He arrived at Wigan from South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he made nearly 50 appearances for their Under-20s side.
He is highly-regarded by former Rabbitohs boss Michael Maguire, who said that ‘he was made for the Wigan environment’. Hamlin is a hard-working forward who carries the ball strongly.
David Mead (Catalans Dragons)
The 29-year-old captained Papua New Guinea at the World Cup and was top drawer. He has made 13 appearances for the Kumuls, scoring nine tries.
He had a glittering career at Gold Coast Titans between 2009 and 2016, scoring 67 tries in 147 games. Mead played for Brisbane Broncos last year but found chances hard to come by, making just 13 appearances.
Mead is an electric full-back who has a lot of pace and is a good leader. A big coup for Catalans, he could help them finish in the top-eight this year.
Pauli Pauli (Wakefield Trinity)
In the NRL, 23 is considered a very young age because that is the average age when players make their professional debuts and Pauli has already made 48 appearances in the best competition in the world.
He played 33 games for Parramatta Eels between 2014 and 2015 before spending two years with Newcastle Knights, playing 15 games.
The signing of Pauli is a huge state of intent from Wakefield.
Which overseas player are you excited to see in action in 2018? Let us know in the comments below.