Several Super League clubs still need to make additions to their forward pack before the season but the market is scarce, aside from NRL forward Aaron Pene who is reported to be available to sign.
It was reported by Aaron Bower that the 28-year-old has been made available for Super League clubs after playing just eight games for Melbourne Storm in 2023 and this has been reiterated by others since.
At six foot three inches and almost 17 stone Aaron Pene is an imposing forward with 32 NRL appearances to his name, but that time in the NRL could be set to end with Super League sides put on notice regarding his availability.
One major issue for the majority of clubs is that at this late stage in the off-season, their quota for overseas players is full, meaning they can’t bring Pene in, however, some clubs could be prepared to make a sacrifice whilst others have the quota to fill.
If the 28-year-old is to make the move to Super League then where exactly could he land?
Warrington Wolves
Perhaps the most obvious option as to where Aaron Pene could end up is in Warrington with a strong ex-NRL contingent already at the club including new signings Zane Musgrove, Rodrick Tai and Lachlan Fitzgibbon.
Pene would link up with Musgrove and Fitzgibbon to form a formidable pack alongside last year’s Dream Team member, and former NRL star, Paul Vaughan as well as young star Matty Nicholson.
Much of Warrington’s incredible start to the 2023 season where they won their opening eight games came off the back of a dominant forward pack creating opportunities for George Williams to play off.
Most importantly, Warrington have the available quota spot after releasing Sam Kasiano earlier this month after just one season at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
London Broncos
Newly promoted London are one of the teams that still have a quota spot available, even after signing Italian international Jack Campagnolo who will join subject to receiving his visa.
Campagnolo became the Broncos’ sixth quota player meaning that there is still room for one more and therefore potentially Pene.
London have had to work to build their squad after their shock promotion from the Championship, the capital club lingering closer to the relegation zone than the playoffs for much of the season.
As such they didn’t recruit with Super League in mind, as Leigh did in 2022, which has left them behind everyone else in the transfer market frenzy.
Despite that, they’ve made signings to their pack such as released Hull KR man Rhys Kennedy and London-born Sadiq Adebiyi, all whilst retaining PNG international Emmanuel Waine.
However, the prospect of another NRL-level prop could be too good to turn down if London has the money to make the move happen.
Salford Red Devils
Paul Rowley’s side could be in the market for a prop after the club lost reliable veteran James Greenwood and fellow forward Matty Costello both to Barrow Raiders.
A winger would be far higher on the club’s wish list after the departure of Ken Sio and Joe Burgess with the former returning home on compassionate grounds, whilst the latter had his contract terminated over a disciplinary matter.
Whilst Ethan Ryan has arrived and new centre Nene Macdonald can play on the wing it would seem that the club will be focusing funds on that position, however, they may look domestically for that role.
That would leave them looking at filling their final quota spot in another area of the field with the club having been reportedly linked with Leigh’s Ben Nakubuwai.
With the Fijian seemingly staying at the Leopards then another option at prop such as Aaron Pene could make sense for Paul Rowley’s side, but again the issue will come down to the money.