Northern Pride sign Opetaia-Halls

Sea Swift Northern Pride has continued its 2016 Intrust Super Cup recruitment drive with the signing of exciting backrower Rajan Opetaia-Halls from Central Queensland Capras.

Opetaia-Halls, who is 190cm tall and weighs 107kg, is a former Parramatta Eels junior and New South Wales Cup player.

The 22-year-old, who impressed Pride Head Coach Joe O'Callaghan when Pride met Capras during the 2015 season, is now looking to make his mark for the Barlow Park club.

"I'm looking for a fresh start with a new team, and my main goal right now is to play a full season for the Pride," said Opetaia-Halls.

"It's exciting to move to an area that I know is passionate about not only just rugby league, but sport in general.

"Pride is a very strong club which always puts out a competitive side, and I can't wait to meet the rest of the boys for pre-season."

O'Callaghan said he believed the Pride could get the best out of Opetaia-Halls, who spent three years playing senior rugby league in NSW.

"Obviously, Rajan's another young guy we've recruited with the plan to hopefully spend a few seasons with us," said O'Callaghan.

"I got a tip about him from some contacts in Rockhampton and kept an eye on him during our last game against them this year and was impressed.

"I did some more research on him and all was quite positive, but with one clear message coming out that he needed to be challenged - and I think our environment can do that.

"He was starting in the backrow and playing 80 minutes at times for the Capras, but I feel he can be better utilised as an impact player to get the best out of his game.

"I had that conversation with Rajan and he agreed. He knows he will have to fight for his spot up here and I think he is really looking forward to it.

"He isn't just your typical strike player - he's got very impressive footwork and speed off the mark and that caught my eye for his size.

"Before going to the Capras for the past two years, he also spent three years playing senior footy in the NSW Ron Massey Cup after leaving the Parramatta Eels junior systems.

"That means he has been playing against men since he was 18 at decent levels, which is great development for a young forward.

The capture of Opetaia-Halls follows the Pride announcement earlier this week of the signing of 20-year-old halfback Brayden Torpy from Gold Coast Titans Under 20s.

O'Callaghan added that he still expected to make several new signing announcements over the next few weeks as he finalises his exciting 2016 Intrust Super Cup squad.

Pride's Intrust Super Cup squad will start preparations for next season when they meet at an induction day in Cairns on Saturday 31 October, before officially starting pre-season training on Monday 2 November.