Super League signings: Who will make the biggest impact?
Wednesday 3 February 2016 17:12, UK
It's the eve of Super League XXI and the players are all ready for a big season.
Defending champions Leeds kick things off against Warrington at Headingley on Thursday night and there'll be plenty of talent on display.
But who are the new faces looking to catch the eye in 2016? We've picked seven signings to look out for this season…
Joel Monaghan
A difficult final year at Warrington means Monaghan has plenty to prove in 2016. The winger was released by the Wolves at the end of last season, despite being club captain and scoring 145 tries in 145 games.
Both Salford and Catalans chased his signature, but he's ended up under Daryl Powell at Castleford as a replacement for the Salford-bound Justin Carney. It could be an inspired signing, as Carney's are certainly big boots to full.
Monaghan knows how to score tries and his experience as a former State of Origin and Australian Test player will come in handy.
Castleford came up just short in some big games last year, but with someone of Monaghan's calibre and experience, Powell's side might just find a way to win those tough battles this season.
Pat Richards
A name we need no reminding of in Super League. Pat is back - but instead of donning the Cherry and White of Wigan, the winger is bound for the South of France to strengthen the Catalan Dragons' title bid.
Now 33, Richards brings a wealth of experience to the French dressing room, including two Super League titles, two Challenge Cups, not to mention the Man of Steel award he won in 2010.
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With more than 300 Super League and NRL appearances, the Dragons have added a wise old head to an already exciting looking squad.
Richard's trusty kicking boot might come in handy too, but expect him to be crossing the whitewash plenty of times in 2016.
Frank Pritchard
Another new season, another big NRL signing for Hull FC. We've seen plenty of big names from Australia pitch up at the KC Stadium, indeed Craig Fitzgibbon and Mark O'Meley made significant impacts on Humberside. And Lee Radford needs their latest overseas recruit to hit his straps early on.
Big things are expected from Frank 'The Tank' Pritchard. The former Kiwi Test forward decided to end his stay with the Canterbury Bulldogs and, despite a late approach from New Zealand Warriors, Pritchard has come to try his hand in Super League.
He's got some CV - a Minor Premiership winner and two-time Grand Finalist with the Bulldogs, not to mention vast international experience.
Pritchard is a big running, hard-hitting second rower, with a dangerous offload in his armoury, but is he the missing piece to Hull's hunt for glory?
Brett Ferres
An unexpected high-profile transfer between two West Yorkshire rivals, but Ferres' time at Huddersfield became untenable due to what the Giants called his 'conduct off the field'.
His subsequent transfer-listing alerted several Super League clubs, but it was Leeds who secured his signature on an initial one-year deal.
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It could be a big signing. Leeds need cover in the back row, with Stevie Ward, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Brett Delaney all missing chunks of last year. That left a lot of work for Carl Ablett and Ferres' signing now ensures the Champions have several high quality options available in that position.
His form for England in the series win over New Zealand was outstanding and furthermore, from the Rhinos' point of view, it weakens a potential title rival. But Ferres certainly has a point to prove at Headingley.
Theo Fages
Last season didn't quite work out for St Helens and they need to improve in 2016. One area that could do with some work is at half-back where Luke Walsh and Travis Burns didn't quite click. And Theo Fages' arrival certainly makes things interesting in that position.
The 21-year-old has joined the Saints after an acrimonious departure from Salford where the Frenchman handed in a transfer request before Dr Marwan Koukash demanded a world record transfer fee for his signature.
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Fages' price didn't quite reach those levels, but he's secured a release from the Red Devils to move to Langtree Park.
And Koukash wasn't a million miles away in estimating a price for Fages' talents; indeed the half-back is a potential Super League superstar. He's got all the skills required to succeed, but perhaps just needs the environment in which to unleash it.
St Helens could well be the place for that so watch out for Fages in helping the Red Vee back to the top of the league.
Joe Westerman
Warrington's 2016 recruit has certainly caught the eye. Kurt Gidley is the star name, Tom Lineham is the young superstar, but Westerman could perhaps be the canniest capture of the lot.
Tony Smith decided to fork out £150,000 for the second rower to bring him over from Hull FC, somewhere he's been for five years, scoring 29 tries in 128 games.
Westerman has got plenty to prove. He never quite fulfilled his potential at the KC Stadium; when he joined from Castleford, Westerman was one of Super League's brightest stars. He's impressed without ever dazzling, highlighted by just a solitary England cap won in 2014 against Samoa.
But Warrington could be a good fit for Westerman, a club impressive without ever clinching that Super League trophy they so desperately crave. Perhaps the silky skills and ball handling talents of their new signing could be just what's needed to unlock that greatest prize.
Sam Tomkins
Super League's worst-kept secret was let out of the bag last April when Wigan brought the world's most expensive player back to the club where it all started.
It didn't quite work out for Sam Tomkins at the New Zealand Warriors and now he's got a few critics to answer going into 2016.
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We all know what Tomkins is capable of, given how many Super League defences he ripped apart in his past Wigan life, but the spotlight will be firmly on him to prove he's still got it. He's not having things his own way though, as a knee injury will keep Tomkins out until Easter.
He left Wigan in 2013 with the Super League trophy in his hands, but with Leeds pipping Wigan in 2015, Shaun Wane will be hoping his prize jewel is the one to help win that crown back.
