By MIKE PARSONS

EXPERIENCED Steve Georgallis will almost certainly be Warrington Wolves' hooker for the start of the 2001 season.

The Wolves have signed the Wests-Tigers utility player on a one-year contract, subject to work permit clearance, and he is expected to take on the No.9 role while David Highton continues to regain total fitness from a knee operation.

For Georgallis it will be his third spell in British football if his application for a European passport is, as hoped for, successful.

This would mean the 32-year-old with Greek parents would not count on the Wolves' overseas player allowance which was completed last week with the signing of New Zealand Maori centre David Kidwell.

Wolves coach and shrewd operator Darryl Van de Velde said it has taken months to get to this stage and is hoping everything can be completed as soon as is possible.

Van de Velde added: "He will be good value for us. His utility value is very good and he has a lot of first grade experience in Australia.

"He knows what Rugby League's all about. He is very strong, has good hands and is always busy on the field."

Georgallis was a regular member of the Wests-Tigers team in their debut season as a merged force. He retired from the National Rugby League competition at the end of the 2000 season and was chair-lifted from the field by teammates after his final game.

He has since been honoured with an Appreciation of Service Award by the club, where he was well respected.

If all goes well for him to come to Warrington, Georgallis will compete not only for the hooker role with Highton and youngster Mark Gleeson but also for the half back positions with stand off Lee Briers and scrum half Allan Langer.

Last year Van de Velde put pressure on the half backs with the recruitment of Steve Blakeley until he decided to rejoin Salford City Reds.

The extra competition did bring the best out of Briers early in the year and the club believe the Wales World Cup semi-finalist will be pushed to the limits again by Georgallis.

Previously Georgallis had spells in England with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Carlise.

He had two seasons with Carlisle at Gillford Park between 1991 and 1993, making 33 appearances and scoring 17 tries after joining the club from Eastern Suburbs.

Georgallis returned to Britain from Western Suburbs for Wakefield in the 1995/96 centenary season. He touched down five times in 17 appearances but with both clubs he never played against Warrington.