After being linked with Albury, the Dragons won the battle to secure the services of the former Auckland Vulcans centre.

Captain-coach Grant Boyd believes he will be a big plus for the club in 2017.

“It is a great boost,” Boyd said.

“He will be a handy pick up that’s for sure.”

Nafetalai first came to Boyd’s attention when he was at Cootamundra and Mark Elia tried to sign him.

He believes the big centre will make quite the impact in Group Nine.

The Dragons faded late in the season to fall out of the race for a first finals appearance in almost a decade and adding a centre has benn on of the positions they are focusing on improving the most.

They are still on the hunt for more outside backs but Boyd is confident former Bulldog, Nathan McGowan, who played five games for Cootamundra last season will come on board.

Boyd also confirmed the injury-prone Corey Spinks will remain at the Dragons after an injury-plagued 2016.

Spinks has very limited game time last season, hurting his ribs in the round one loss to Gundagai before breaking his cheekbone 10 minutes into this return.

However, Boyd is hopeful the club can see the best of the playmaker.

“I’ve only seen him play the two or three games and he looks like he is a good player,” he said.

“I played with him in the West Wyalong Kelly Cup and killed it in that game and then got injured the next week.”