Albury has secured the biggest new face of the Group Nine off-season with Tongan international Etuate Uaisele agreeing to terms.
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Uaisele will join the club after two seasons with Super League club Bradford.
The 31-year-old moved to England after time with Penrith and Parramatta.
The flyer played 30 games in the NRL and Thunder president Rick O’Connell believes he will be a big boost for the club’s fortunes.
“It is just fantastic for the club to pick up someone of that quality and experience,” O’Connell said.
“He will be able to impart his knowledge to some of our great juniors that are coming through.”
Uaisele shapes as an ideal replacement for the departed captain-coach Ben Jeffery.
However, wherever he slots in at fullback or at centre is yet to be determined.
“We needed to replace Ben Jeffery so hopefully this will go a little way toward that,” O’Connell said.
Uaisele is the third major signing for the Border club this season.
They’ve also brought in Country representative Tuki Jackson from Yanco-Wamoon as captain-coach as well as halfback Jarrod Brackenhofer.
O’Connell is hopeful there will be more signings to come and the forward pack is expected to be the area of focus
The Thunder will be without representative forward Andrew Cowhan and fellow front rowers Matt Garness and Jack Watson.
Watson’s army commitments see him leave in May while O’Connell said Chris Seaton had retired.
