WARRINGTON Wolves are said to be closing in on a new addition to their squad.

Reports emerged in Australia over the weekend that The Wire had identified Papua New Guinea international forward Dan Russell as a target to bolster their squad for 2025.

The 28-year-old towering second-rower is on the lookout for a club after his contract with NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons expired, and renowned Australian journalist “The Mole” reported that he was closing in on a move to The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

It is believed the deal is now on the verge of completion, with Russell set to fill the overseas quota spot left vacant by the departure of half-back Josh Drinkwater, who played his final game for Warrington on Friday night as they were beaten by Hull KR in the Super League semi-finals.

That would take Wire up to the maximum of seven overseas players allowed in their squad with Matt Dufty, Paul Vaughan, Zane Musgrove, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Luke Yates and Russell’s fellow PNG international Rodrick Tai being the others.

Warrington had been looking for reinforcements in the second row, with both Matty Nicholson and John Bateman departing the club while Fitzgibbon has had surgery on a shoulder issue that ended his 2024 season early.

That has led them to Russell, who stands at 6ft4ins tall, tips the scales at just over 16 stone and is capable of operating in the centres.

His eight NRL appearances all came for St George during the 2023 season, with the vast majority of his career being played in both the Queensland and New South Wales Cup competitions.

He has 10 caps for Papua New Guinea and played for them during the Rugby League World Cup on these shores in 2022, including a game at The Halliwell Jones Stadium against the Cook Islands.