Zane Tetevano hasn't joined Leeds Rhinos to 'muck about' - ex-Penrith Panthers star says Super League is right up his alley

Barring mishaps in training, the 30-year-old front-rower will make his Rhinos debut a month today (Saturday) against Wakefield Trinity at Emerald Headingley in Betfred Super League round one.

Tetevano, signed from Penrith Panthers on a three-year contract, arrived in Leeds on Tuesday. He is required to quarantine for five days and will then meet his new teammates for the first time, if he tests negative for coronavirus.

A current New Zealand and past Cook Islands international, Tetevano has featured in two of the last three NRL Grand Finals, winning the title with Sydney Roosters in 2018 and finishing a runner-up to Melbourne Storm last year.

Rhinos coach Richard Agar and director of rugby Kevin Sinfield both believe Tetevano will make a huge difference to Rhinos’ pack this season and he declared himself ready to repay their faith.

“I am not here to muck around, I am here to get a job done,” he told an online media conference from his room at the Headingley Lodge hotel, inside the grounds of Rhinos’ home stadium.

“I am ready, fully fit and healthy. I just want to get connected with the team and make sure I am putting my best foot forward.

“I want to make sure I leave a mark. There’s going to be some good times and some tough times, but I know the boys are going to work hard for each other.

“The coaching staff is great and we’ve got young men who are willing to go that extra yard.

“I know where my head space is at and what I want out of it.

“I want to do the right thing by the club.

“I am excited for the journey and looking forward to it.”

Tetevano, who has been training with Penrith, said he has “always been a big fan of Super League” and noted: “It is a bit more ad-lib footy, throwing the ball around.

“In defence everyone’s just banging each other, which is down my alley. I am looking forward to one day being able to run out at Headingley with the crowd there, because I have seen a couple of videos, which excited me.

“I know Super League is hard, I believe it is fast and physical, which I like and I am looking forward to it.”

Warrington Wolves and St Helens showed an interest in Tetevano two years ago when he was considering a move to Super League.

At the time, he and his partner decided to stay in Australia, but Tetevano said once Sinfield got in touch, joining Leeds was always his first choice.

“I got a phone call to say Kev was pretty keen to have me at Leeds,” he recalled.

“When you get a phone call from Kevin Sinfield, this is the GOAT [greatest of all time] of Super League.

“I spoke to my partner about it and she said we’ve experienced a lot of things we wanted to at home and it was time to come over here and go for another challenge.

“It came out of the blue, it was surprising, but at the same time exciting. I felt I was ready to rock and roll and try something new.

“I want to thank Kev for that phone call because it means a lot to me and my family.”

Tetevano featured in all three of New Zealand’s Test against Great Britain at the end of 2019, but played twice for Cook Islands during the 2013 World Cup in England and said he is likely to make himself available for them again this year.