Catalans Dragons face St Helens on Friday night and therefore still have plenty to play for in 2023 but they’ve announced another key signing for the 2024 season in Bayley Sironen.
The 26-year-old forward is the younger brother of St Helens’ Curtis Sirone and arrives from New Zealand Warriors on a two year deal to bolster Catalans pack.
The Dragons are losing plenty of key players in the off-season but the intent to bring in a player of Sironen’s quality suggests they’ll be heading deep into the play-offs again next year.
Catalans anno8nced the signed via their website with the following statement.
“Catalans Dragons are delighted to announce the signing of Bayley Sironen from the 2024 season.
“The New Zealand Warriors second row, 26, has signed a two-year deal.”
Bayley Sironen said: “ I am very excited to be coming to such a competitive club, I was really impressed with what Steve had to say and the way he spoke when meeting the coach and I have heard such good things from people who have represented the club in the past. I’m looking forward to hopefully bringing more success to the Dragons and can’t wait to move over and get to work.”
“Bayley Sironen started his career in New South Wales Cup with Wests Tigers reserve team before making his professional debut with the team in NRL in August 2017.
“After 2 NRL appearances with Wests Tigers, he moved to South Sydney Rabbitohs. With limited opportunities in the Rabbitohs’ squad where he played five games in his first two NRL seasons with the club, he established himself as a frontline player for the Rabbitohs in 2020 appearing in 19 games to lift his career tally to 24.
“In 2021, he joined the New Zealand Warriors and quickly became a key player of the Warriors’ squad. With 56 NRL appearances, he reached the NRL semi-finals.
“A versatile player, able to play as a second row, lock or five-eighth. Bayley Sironen is set to discover the Super League with Catalans Dragons after 80 appearances in 6 NRL seasons.”
Steve McNamara said: “Bayley is a young ambitious player with lots of NRL experience who will be a great addition to our squad. He is a player that players love to play alongside and coaches love to coach. He will primarily come as a 2nd row but his versatility will also give us many options.”
