CRONULLA Sharks are on the verge of adding an exciting young outside back from Queensland to their new player roster for 2013.
A scout recently tipped off Sharks coach Shane Flanagan about him, and Flanagan and another official flew north to watch him and a few other players in action.
The Sharks have really bolstered their outside backs in the past few months, with promising under-20s' centre Daniel Moroko the latest to re-sign with the club.
Son of former Sharks and Wests forward George Moroko, he overcame a suspension for a biting charge to be one of the more consistent players for the Sharks Toyota Cup side last season.
The Sharks had already signed up NRL big guns Michael Gordon, Jonathan Wright and Beau Ryan for their backline, and also re-signed former New Zealand Warriors under-20s' centre, Sosaia Feki.
In the forwards, Penrith's Test forward Luke Lewis was the club's star signing, along with Wests Tigers Chris Heighington, with the Sharks adding Bulldogs Toyota Cup back row star Tupou Sopoaga (who graduated through the prestigious rugby school Wellington College).
Sopoaga, 20, joins Sharks halfback Penani Manulalealii in the Junior Kiwis side to take on the Junior Kangaroos, including Sharks young hooker Michael Lichaa, this Saturday in Townsville.
They join the NRL Sharks summer training squad along with young Como prop Rodney Coates and NSW Cup pair, Tyrone Peachey and Sosaia Feki.
Promising under-18 local juniors like Taylar Garrett, Finlay Dibley and Kurt Dillon will move up from S.G. Ball and join the likes of Reece Davidson, Josh Lambert, Jake Walsh, Sione Masima, Nesiasi Mataitonga and Tokerau Raru in Toyota Cup next season.
http://www.theleader.com.au/story/383883/sharks-nab-new-recruits/?cs=1633