Ngāi Te Rangi's Bodene Thompson will debut for the Warriors this weekend in their opening game of the season against the Knights at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
He will join another experienced recruit Ryan Hoffman, and young star Solomone Kata who are also gaining their first cap for the club.
According to Bodene Thompson, “It's always exciting to get the first game underway, it's exciting times and being at a new club just adds that extra dimension to it, and what better club to play for than the Warriors."
Thompson’s family still resides in the Gold Coast so a few of them will make the trip to Newcastle to watch him play for the first time in the Warriors jersey.
Thompson will join Ryan Hoffman in the second row while Captain Simon Mannering will be in the number 13 jersey. Thompson says the team have had a good pre-season but the intensity will increase this weekend.
Thompson believes he had his best season last year with the Tigers and wants to lift again for the Warriors.