RUGBY LEAGUE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
ORANGE Hawks announced their first major recruitment coups for the 2016 Group 10 Rugby League season yesterday, unveiling two new signings in former Wynnum-Manly centre Viane Falaniko, and former Gold Coast Titans Holden Cup forward Douglas Faaiu.
Falaniko, who played with the Seagulls in the XXXX Brisbane Second Division Rugby League top grade competition for some time, and Faaiu, also a former Burleigh Bear, have linked with Hawks for at least the 2016 season, thanks to the latter’s relationship with captain-coach Wise Kativerata.
“I met Wise when he was my defensive coach at Gold Coast, and he said I should come and have a go with the Hawks,” Faaiu said.
“It’s an opportunity, and we both had interest in coming and testing ourselves (in a different environment),” Falaniko said.
“We’ve both been playing in Queensland for the last few years, and got a fair bit of experience up there so we thought it would be good to come down here, and give it a go with the Hawks.
“With a few injuries and setbacks I never really got the chance to move up into the (Intrust Super) Q Cup. But I’m back bigger and stronger now, and I’m really looking forward to getting into it with the Hawks, and hopefully playing some good football.
“We’ve got a bit of experience behind us, obviously Doug in particular with the Titans, so hopefully we can help out the guys with what we know and really help out on the field, and do our jobs."
“I’m really looking forward to it, I want to smash some guys,” Faaiu laughed.
Hawks finished eighth last season and in particular, were desperate for another big man up front to support gun prop Mitch Davis. Faaiu is likely to fill that hole, while Falaniko is expected to find a home in the outside backs.
Crucially, neither player is short of fitness having just arrived back in Australia following Samoa Queensland’s - a side made of players with Samoan heritage, picked from the Queensland competitions - tour of Samoa.
“I was 50-50 about going, but my good mate Doug supported me and pushed me into it for the fitness, and it was a great experience,” Falaniko said.
“Especially getting to play in front of your family,” Faaiu added.
Hawks’ new president Frank Sheehan said while the duo certainly aren’t the club’s savours, he and the rest of the committee are expecting them to be strong contributors on and off the paddock.
“I think they’ll bring discipline, strength up front with Douglas and speed out wide with Viane,” Sheehan said.
“I think they’ll provide direction for our juniors, especially with some under 18 guys no doubt coming up to first grade they’ll have a great advantage in coming through with these guys, who I expect will lead by example.
“They’re two pretty good signings to kick off the season, and we’re looking forward to these young men playing for Hawks.”