Warriors forward off to Hull
Warriors forward Ligi Sao is leaving the club at the end of the NRL season to play in the Super League.
The off-contract 26-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Hull FC, who reportedly beat off competition to sign the versatile prop/lock.
Sao is in his fourth season at the Warriors, having played 23 games for the club since joining in 2016. Prior to that he played 21 matches for the Manly Sea Eagles in 2013 and 2015. He has also played one test for Samoa in 2018.
This year Sao has featured in just five outings, all from the bench, having returned to the side in last Friday’s 24-16 win over Manly in Auckland following time with the Canterbury Cup side. He has again been named on the interchange for tomorrow’s clash with the Roosters in Sydney.
He will have a familiar face at Hull FC in fellow forward Chris Satae, who was given an immediate release by the Warriors last week, while other new recruits for the club, who sit third with four rounds to play in the regular season, include fellow NRL reps Mahe Fonua and Manu Ma’u.
Sao told the Hull FC website he was excited about what his new move had in store.
‘‘I know the club have been going pretty well over the past few years so I’m really pleased to be joining a positive environment which that success has created,’’ he said.
‘‘As a rugby league player in Australia, a lot of players who make the move to Super League do so at the back end of their career, but I saw this as a big opportunity for me while I’m in the prime of my career to show what I’m about.
‘‘For me it was a chance to push myself to the next level. You can’t turn down a big club and a big chance like this.
‘‘My family are really excited to move to the UK too. We’ve loved our time in New Zealand but it’s an exciting time for them too to see the other side of the world.’’
‘‘I saw this as a big opportunity for me while I’m in the prime of my career to show what I’m about.’’