Hull FC have signed former Wigan Warriors and New Zealand Test prop Iafeta Paleaaesina on a two-year contract. The 31-year-old forward joins the Black and Whites from French championship side Limoux, where he has spent the past year since being released by Salford at the end of the 2012 season.
Paleaaesina will arrive at the KC looking to kick-start his career once again and he's told the Mail his new start at Hull is an opportunity he won't waste. Brought in alongside Hull KR prop Mickey Paea, Paleaaesina believes the pair can give Hull what they have missed this year by bringing added muscle to the Black and Whites.
"This is a new start and it is a great feeling to be back playing at the highest level at a club with such great history and such a great following," Paleaaesina told the Mail. "This is a massive opportunity for me and one I couldn't turn down. People know my style of play and with Mickey Paea coming in too, no doubt we'll try and lead from the front and put our hands up to be the ones to take the team forward in games."
Paleaaesina becomes Hull's third confirmed new signing for next season, joining Paea and second-row forward Jordan Thompson from Castleford Tigers. The Kiwi-born player with Samoan heritage has been brought in by Hull to add extra punch to their pack, with the Black and Whites losing the likes of Mark O'Meley and Andy Lynch.
Arriving in Super League in 2006 after five years at the New Zealand Warriors, Paleaaesina spent five seasons at Wigan before a two-year spell at Salford. Under contract at Limoux, Paleaaesina will start the new French rugby league season this month with his current club in order to get some games under his belt before arriving in November for the start of pre-season at Hull.
"Because it is a winter sport in France I've not played since May so I'll be starting the season with Limoux to keep ticking over before coming to Hull for the start of pre-season," added Paleaaesina. "I've been training all summer to get myself in great condition and I cannot wait to get going at Hull now. Next season cannot come soon enough for me."
While some fans may remember a rather large Paleaaesina in his final year at Salford, the prop has shed the weight and impressed Hull with both his fitness and desire to come to the KC. Relishing the opportunity to be back in Super League, Paleaaesina insists it is not one he will waste.
He added: "I can't say enough how excited I am to play for Hull and my family are excited to come too. I got an email from Adam Pearson and it's unusual to get an owner contacting you. As soon as I read it, I knew I had to come to Hull.
"I have to thank Adam, Peter Gentle and Lee Radford for allowing me this chance to play for a club like Hull. I'll be doing everything I can to do well for the club."
For Gentle, the chance to sign a former Test player with Paleaasina's experience was too good to pass up. He said: "His desire and commitment is what won me over. He's something we have missed, that type of robust, knock them down, forward. He's coming for all the right reasons and it will be special to see him go in the condition he's in."
