The Wests Tigers have landed another significant pre-season blow after convincing impressive forward Fonua Pole to knock back interest from the Melbourne Storm and sign a two-year extension with the club.
Pole emerged as one of the Tigers’ important players last season, becoming a fixture in their pack as he made 23 appearances for the club.
He entered the final year of his deal on November 1 and it is understood the Storm were keen to lure him to Melbourne, where his younger brother Suli is part of the system.
However, Pole has instead opted to stay at the Tigers in a huge vote of confidence for coach Benji Marshall and chief executive Shane Richardson, signing a deal that will tie him to the Tigers until the end 2027.
Pole’s retention continues a resurgent pre-season for Marshall and the club, who added Sydney Roosters forward Terrell May to their ranks as part of a recruitment drive that has netted the likes of Jarome Luai, Royce Hunt and Jack Bird.
Rugby Sevens star Nathan Lawson is feverishly learning the Dragons playbook via video sessions as he prepares to make a stunning NRL debut alongside Valentine Holmes and Clint Gutherson next year.
Weeks after winning the Australia’s men’s Sevens player of the year award, Lawson announced his code switch to league after being wooed by Dragons 스포츠토토사이트 coach Shane Flanagan, and having n ever played the game before, is now brushing up on his knowledge via software program Hudl.
The Dragons have been trying to offload winger Mikaele Ravalawa, so it’s likely Lawson will battle Tyrell Sloan, Christian Tuipulotu, Mat Feagai and Sione Finau for a starting wing spot in a revamped Dragons backline that now features former Eels skipper Gutherson and Queensland Origin star Holmes.
“I’ve been in contact with the Dragons got all their Hudl and all their footage so I’m obviously just watching that and getting my head around all their training and everything, just so when I rock up in December it’s not a huge shock to me,” Lawson told this masthead.
“It’s more mentally getting myself ready, I think Sevens will prepare me fitness wise, the physical side should be fine.
“It’s very exciting to think I could (play alongside Holmes and Gutherson). I think if you play outside them, they make a game very easy.
“I’ve just got to work hard enough to be able to get a spot there, and I think that will just make my game simple as anything.”
The 25-year-old, who began his rugby career in the forwards but transitioned to a power runner in Sevens with a 94kg frame, knew it was time to take a gamble on the NRL after the Paris Olympics.
“After the Olympics I had a good think about it, because the next Olympics is four years away, that’s a commitment to a four-year cycle and I wanted to try something new, I felt like I’d achieved pretty much everything I wanted in Sevens other than winning the Olympics,” Lawson said.