IF the reports in Australia are on the money, Warrington Wolves look set to have a monstrous and experienced collection of prop forwards on their books next season.
They are being linked with Australian internationals Paul Vaughan and Josh McGuire, along with speculation continuing around half-back/full-back Matt Dufty as Warrington Guardian has previously reported.
It does fit in with what Wire head coach Daryl Powell said in his press conference this week, that there are more middle-unit forward signings to come.
This follows the arrival of another souther hemisphere recruit, Tom Mikaele, from Wests Tigers who could make his debut at Wakefield Trinity on Sunday.
Plus The Wire have already announced the signings of props Sam Kasiano and Gil Dudson from Catalans Dragons for 2023.
Powell had told hometown star prop Mike Cooper in chats with him that he would not be offered a new contract at the end of the year, highlighting he wanted to go in a different direction.
Again, this would fit.
It has been a common theme of 2022 that Warrington's pack has not been good enough, often being dominated by the opposition and leaving the backs as well as hookers Daryl Clark and Danny Walker with no platform to launch their explosive running games.
Canterbury Bulldogs powerhouse Vaughan, 31, has represented the Kangaroos twice and could well be over here later in the year to play for Italy in the Rugby League World Cup.
At 6ft 4in and close to 17½ stones, he is some weapon in the front row.
Vaughan, who started out with Canberra Raiders and also had five seasons with St George Illawarra Dragons before joining Bulldogs for 2022, is currently sixth in the NRL rankings for most metres made after contact, 22nd highest for tackles made, 24th for metres run with the ball.
His solid all-round stats also include him not being present in the top 50 players for errors or conceding penalties.
Vaughan represented Italy in the 2013 and 2017 World Cups, but achieved honours with Australia in 2019.
His absence from the New South Wales squad for this year's State of Origin series could point to him not being in the reckoning for the Kangaroos later in the year.
Meanwhile McGuire, 32, has featured at loose forward, hooker and in the half backs during a 14-year career which has now reached 289 top-flight appearances.
He is in his second season with St George after three seasons at North Queensland Cowboys that came after 10 years with his home city club Brisbane Broncos.
McGuire contested the 2017 World Cup with Australia, while he also has Test match history with Samoa.
His game time has suffered recently with two five-match suspensions, as well as a further one-match ban and $12,000 fine after breaching the game's Covid-19 biosecurity protocols when he attended a party – along with 12 other St George Illawarra players – at his former teammate Paul Vaughan's property in 2021.
Any such move for this pair would suggest further current forwards leaving the club at the season's end.
And speculation is rife that Gareth Widdop's three years at the club will not become four, with Castleford Tigers a possible destination for the England international.
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