Rauhihi deal signals Wolves' intent

If Warrington needed to serve any further notice of their growing ambition, they did so this week with the signing of Paul Rauhihi.

The New Zealand Test prop will arrive next season on a two-year contract. He was voted the best prop in Australia's National Rugby League last season as he played a big part in steering the North Queensland Cowboys into the play-offs for the first time.

His sheer power, coupled with an ability to keep the ball alive, should make him a huge success in Britain and if the Wolves coach, Paul Cullen, can hit his second target by signing the Melbourne scrum-half Matt Orford, his team will look formidable next season.

There is even a suggestion that Warrington could also be in the market for a top-class wing, with Leeds' Mark Calderwood and Bradford's Stuart Reardon in the frame.

Warrington are looking in good shape already, lying third in Super League going into tomorrow's match against Salford. Their one recent setback has been the finger injury that will rule out Mike Wainwright for six weeks. He is likely to be replaced today by Paul Noone and Lee Briers should be fit to return at half-back.

Rauhihi's long shadow could start to fall across the team this year. Warrington's two overseas props, Danny Lima and Chris Leikvoll, are out of contract at the end of this season.

Both want to stay at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, but Rauhihi's arrival might leave room for only one. This should give them an obvious performance incentive for the rest of the campaign.

Salford have now lost seven in a row, although they were encouraged by their performance against St Helens last weekend. Karl Harrison's team would have got something out of that game, but for the unstoppable form of Saints' Australian centre Jamie Lyon.

Salford have had mixed news over their casualties. Anthony Stewart has dislocated but not, as feared, broken his elbow and could play again in two months.

Kevin McGuiness' season is over, however, after knee surgery and the City Reds will miss his incisive play as they try to avoid relegation trouble.

The side who could catch them, Widnes, are at Bradford, having missed a good opportunity to climb out of the bottom two last weekend with a listless performance against London.

Wakefield would have dropped into the relegation zone if Widnes had won and they are at Huddersfield today, the Giants having had the boost this week of James Evans deciding to stay with them for another two years, rather than taking up offers to return home to Australia.