Wakefield Wildcats: New signing Sio up for fight with Wildcats

Wildcats yesterday confirmed the signing of Samoan international forward Michael Sio, from Australian Queensland Cup outfit Mackay Cutters, on a contract lasting until the autumn of 2016.

And chairman Michael Carter said he hopes other new faces will be added before the end of the regular season next month.

The departure of Lopini Paea, Dean Collis and Jarrod Sammut has opened up space in Wildcats’ budget and overseas quota and Carter confirmed: “I have a list of about 30 players who have either been offered to us, or who we’ve tried to make contact with.

“It’s just a matter of trying to get the best ones in as quickly as possible, within our budget.

“Hopefully, within the next three weeks we’ll be able to bring a couple more in.”

Of Sio, Carter said: “He is a young guy who can play a variety of positions for us and I am looking forward to watching him helping our cause for the next 18 months.”

Auckland-born Sio, 22, can operate at hooker, second-row or loose-forward and has played alongside Wildcats’ Pita Godinet for Samoa.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play in the Super League,” said Sio.

“A number of the Samoan boys are playing in the UK and they all speak so highly of the competition.

“I know we have a fight on our hands, but I can’t wait to get over there and dig in with the team and get the results we need.”