Raiders sign Havili to ease hooking crisis

Dec 7, 2017 - 5:04 AM Canberra have signed Tongan international Siliva Havili in an effort to ease their hooking crisis following Josh Hodgson's serious knee injury.

Havili was signed on a year-deal for the 2018 NRL season after coach Ricky Stuart's rake stocks were decimated in recent weeks.

The former Warriors and St George Illawarra player joins Craig Garvey as the Raiders' No.9 options for next year.

Hodgson is expected to miss nine months after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for England during the World Cup.

The club's stocks were further sapped after Adam Clydesdale retired while Kurt Baptiste is reportedly on the verge of leaving the club.

Havili, who has played 24 NRL matches since debuting for the Warriors in 2013, now has the chance to nail down a spot in Stuart's 17 either at No.9 or off the bench.

"Siliva had a wonderful World Cup tournament for Tonga and he joins the squad to give us some depth to cover the unfortunate loss of Josh Hodgson," Raiders recruitment boss Peter Mulholland said.

"We're looking forward to him joining the squad and having a solid pre-season with his new club."

Source: AAP