IN theory, Thomas Mikaele’s imminent signing ticks a lot of boxes for Warrington Wolves.

First of all, he’s a big body and anybody who has watched this Wire side for any amount of time would know that was an area that needed strengthening.

At 6ft 3ins tall and tipping the scales at just over 17 stone, he is certainly an imposing presence. Time will tell as to how he uses those kind of attributes on the field.

The fact he is available to come over immediately is an extra bonus for Daryl Powell.

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Whether or not he arrives in time to face Leeds Rhinos in The Wire’s next game remains to be seen but as they aim to draw a line under a disappointing first half to the season, it is certainly a welcome boost.

With James Harrison nearing a return to fitness too, the front-row stocks are about to be significantly refreshed in the short-term ahead of the expected arrivals of Sam Kasiano and Gil Dudson next year.

Mikaele also falls into a bit of a sweet spot in terms of the kind of player Wire fans would like to see coming over from the NRL.

With more than 60 first-grade appearances under his belt, the New Zealander is not exactly a novice but in theory, he has his best years ahead of him given he is just 24 years of age.

How many of those years will be spent at The Halliwell Jones Stadium will only become clear as time goes on and it may well be that he finds a settled home in England.

Even if his ultimate goal is to head back to the NRL at some point, his best way of doing that would be to show his best form in a Warrington Wolves shirt.

There is a guardedness about players coming from Down Under in the autumn of their careers, but Mikaele is anything but.

Let’s see how it plays out but in a period of recruitment that is critical for Warrington Wolves, they appear to have made the right kind of start.