Shannon is

second-grade league 2016.

Stone views Wakeman as a replacement for Craig Huby in his 2017 squad.

“Obviously the move away by Craig came a bit out of left-field and left us searching for an established and experienced out and out front-row forward,” explained Stone.

“I had already considered Shannon for further down the line for us, but when our situation changed then Shannon was my go-to guy to come across.

“I have seen plenty of him in action back home and he is a big mobile type of front rower, and I know he wants a crack at the top flight, which is something I am pleased we can give him.

“He is at the stage of his career now where if he is going to make the big breakthrough then he needs an opportunity and a start – we can provide both for him.

“I am confident that he can bring a lot to our squad – he is a big man around 6ft 2in, 16 and a half stone and he can motor a bit.”

Wakeman is looking forward to joining the Giants and said: “I am happy to have a new challenge overseas and in the Super League at Huddersfield.

“I’ll be teaming up again with my front-row partner Sebastine Ikahihifo, who played last year with us for a while before he moved to the UK.

“So it’ll be good to have a familiar face when I get there.”

Wakeman is the only Cutter to play more than 100 games in the NSW competition, and his consistency has seen the prop become a mainstay in Illawarra’s charge to winning honours.

Viewed as tough and uncompromising in the middle, Wakeman has been outstanding in both making yards with the ball and in bone-jarring defence.

His 397 runs for 3,882 metres were the most of any player in