The Mackay Cutters have bolstered their playing squad considerably for the 2015 Intrust Super Cup season with the signings of former Warriors players Steve Rapira and Michael Sio.
After playing 57 NRL games for the Cowboys and then the Warriors, Rapira joined Salford in the UK Super League but will return to North Queensland in 2015 where he previously played a handful of games for the Cutters.
The acquisition of Sio will give the Cutters some strike around the ruck area with the 2013 Warriors under-20s player of the year already a five-time Test representative with Samoa, including the 2013 World Cup.
“I couldn’t have wished for two better players to choose our club to continue their careers," said Mackay coach Kim Williams.
"Steve is an outstanding player who will add quality and experience to our young group and Michael is an up-and-coming future star who has chosen us over a host of NRL clubs who were chasing his signature.
"We are delighted to have them on board and we expect them to make an immediate impact within our club when they arrive next week.”
Rapira is a hard-working prop or back-rower who established himself at the Cowboys before heading back to his homeland of New Zealand where he had two seasons with the Warriors. He then joined Salford in 2014 where he played 17 games before signing with the Cutters for season 2015.
Sio is seen as an outstanding young leader who has all the qualities to progress to the top levels of the game and is hoping to use his stint in Mackay to push for an NRL contract in future.
