The Manly Sea Eagles have signed former New Zealand international Epalahame Lauaki as the replacement for retired forward Richie Fa'aoso.
The Sea Eagles were suffering a props crisis after losing Fa'aoso, George Rose (Melbourne), Brent Kite (Panthers), David Gower (Eels) and Joe Galuvao (retirement) in the off-season, while co-captain Jason King remains sidelined with injury.
Fa'aoso was forced to prematurely abandon his 155-game NRL career due to a neck injury sustained against South Sydney during last year's final series. Doctors gave the journeyman forward conditional clearance to resume training in December but subsequent scans revealed he risked catastrophic injury if he played on.
Lauaki made his name with his trademark charges for the Warriors, playing 69 games for the NRL club between 2004 and 2008 and earning Kiwi selection. He then switched to the Super League, enjoying stints with Hull FC and Wigan Warriors before being released this year.
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