Hull add to Tonga crew with Lauaki

(GETTY IMAGES)

Hull have signed a third Tongan in the World Cup forward, Epalahame Lauaki. The second-rower has been given a release from the remaining two years of his contract at the New Zealand Warriors and will arrive to join his new club as soon as he obtains his visa. He will join two other Tongan forwards, Willie Manu and Sam Moa, at the KC Stadium.

“I didn’t want to come at the end of my career,” said the 26-year-old, who played twice for New Zealand before switching his allegiance. “I wanted to come when I still had plenty of football in front of me.”

The signing is a delayed success for Hull’s football operations manager, Jon Sharp, who tried to recruit him when he was coach at Huddersfield. “I was desperate to sign him and I chased him for two years,” he said. “He will be a tremendous asset.”

Elland Road will also be the venue for the final of the Four Nations tournament this autumn. The match will be played there on 14 November.

The tournament opens with Australia playing New Zealand at the Stoop on 24 October, with England meeting France at Doncaster the following day. England’s other fixtures are against Australia at Wigan and the Kiwis at Huddersfield.