SIMON Moran has revealed that Wolves were so keen to sign half back Michael Monaghan that they turned away a former Australia international to tie up the Manly ace on a four-year deal.

Wolves fended off rival offers from Hull, who were initially the favourites, and four NRL clubs - believed to be Wests, Cronulla, Parramatta and St George-Illawarra - to bring Monaghan to The Halliwell Jones for 2008.

The 27-year-old Australian, who is Wolves' first confirmed overseas quota player for next year, was Warrington's number one target as soon as Andrew Johns announced his retirement.

Even the chance to sign Cronulla's Brett Kimmorley - a man with 15 Kangaroos caps to his name - did not deter them.

Monaghan, who follows Louis Anderson to the club for 2008 and is set to team up with Lee Briers in the halves, has been one of the form players in the NRL in recent weeks.

His Manly side currently top the table and the former Canberra player had been touted for a possible place at half back in the New South Wales team.

And an upbeat Moran, who is Wolves' majority shareholder and played a big part in securing the Monaghan deal, said: "It could be a massive signing.

"We'd hoped for Andrew Johns next year but unfortunately he retired and as soon as that happened Michael was the number one target.

"I know six NRL clubs were interested in him.

"We've come from behind to get him. Hull are very disappointed not to get him and Manly fans are disappointed that he's leaving.

"The head of the NRL even spoke to his manager and asked him to stay in Australia, so it shows he's a good talent.

"And we've chosen him ahead of people like Brett Kimmorley, who we had been asked to make an offer for.

"Michael will be 27 when he gets here, so we're getting him at his peak. And Louis Anderson will be only 22, so these are not players that have to leave the NRL. They are top rate players."

Monaghan, who has been tracked by Wolves for the past two seaons, has negotiated his release from Manly a year before the end of his contract because he wanted to return to his normal half back role.

He has spent the majority of the past two seasons at hooker after scrum half Matt Orford turned down Wolves' advances and joined Manly in 2006.

And Paul Cullen believes Monaghan could provide the organisation that Wolves have so often missed when Briers has been absent in recent seasons.

Cullen said: "I think he's a great organiser. He's a smart player with the ball and a tough defender, and his kicking game is of sufficient quality to get his team to the top of the NRL."