Tom Mikaele on his first full season with Warrington Wolves

Having shown signs of promise following his mid-year move from Wests Tigers, the Samoan powerhouse is preparing for his first full season in Super League.

As with any overseas recruit, the slog of pre-season on cold winter days will be somewhat of an adjustment and will test the fondness he has shown for life in Warrington.

Mikaele modelled the 2023 away kit at the club's kit launch earlier this month (Image: Mike Boden)

However, the prop is keen for the challenge as he and partner Jasmine prepare to welcome their second child.

“We’re enjoying it a lot. Settling in has been very easy – my Mrs loves it and my son doesn’t mind so it’s all good,” he told the Guardian.

“We’re having another baby soon – my Mrs is due in December so she couldn’t fly, but in hindsight it’s worked out well that we’ve stayed here for the off-season.

“The Christmas period over here is going to be real fun for us as a family.

“It is starting to get cold though – I’m already feeling it!

“I don’t mind the training – it’s pre-season so you know it’s going to be hard – but the weather is going to be a challenge. It’s different to what I’m used to but I’ll soon adjust.

“The place just reminds me of home. Now that I’ve been here in Warrington, I don’t think I would have wanted to go anywhere else in this country.

“It’s a working-class area, people work hard here and they’re good people. It reminds me of where I’m from in Australia.”

The 11 appearances Mikaele made off the bench during 2022 gave him a sighter of what life on this side of the world is like.

Tom Mikaele in action during the 2022 season (Image: Mike Boden)

He admitted there were “ups and downs” in that time as the team struggled to a dismal 11th-place finish but he feels ironing out the kinks will allow him to perform better in the long run.

“I came in with the same approach as I had in the NRL and personally, some of the games I played in felt like NRL-standard,” he said.

“For myself, I had some ups and downs in the last few weeks but it was better to come over here early and experience that.

“Now I can focus on going hard in pre-season and in the new year.

“I was far from my best physically but I still felt like I put in some good performances. It was just a case of showing a bit of what I could do.

“My goal is to lose 10 kilos, which would drop me down to a weight I haven’t been at really since high school.

“It’s exciting for me and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Having arrived to boost the front row for 2022, Mikaele and his fellow props are about to be joined by the likes of Paul Vaughan, Sam Kasiano and Gil Dudson for the new campaign.

Josh McGuire’s arrival will also boost a middle unit whose existing options included Mikaele, James Harrison and Joe Bullock, injury recoveree Joe Philbin and youngsters Luke Thomas and Jamie Reddecliff.

“That competition drives everyone to be better,” Mikaele said.

“I think it’s going to be good for me and for us as a team to have those kinds of guys around – guys who have been at the very top of the game.

“I’m still a young forward, so having them around will only benefit me in the long run.”