WAKEFIELD TRINITY have signed Mason Teague as a replacement for departing hooker Tyson Smoothy.
Cook Islands international Teague, 23, will join on a two-year deal from Queensland Cup side Burleigh Bears after Wakefield agreed to cut short Smoothy’s three-year contract on “compassionate grounds”, allowing the 27-year-old to sign with Perth Bears for their upcoming NRL entry.
Smoothy moved to England as an NRL champion with Brisbane Broncos, where Teague trained last pre-season after playing eight times in the NRL for the neighbouring Dolphins, mostly as a loose-forward.
His lack of first-grade experience hasn’t stopped Wakefield’s director of rugby, Ste Mills, from waxing lyrical about their latest capture.
“Mason is someone that has been top of our list to bring over to the club for a while now, and when we started looking at our future in the nine position he was the first player we wanted,” Mills said.
“His transition into the nine position over the last 18 months has been nothing short of great and we see a lot of development in his game.
“From talking to Mason and his partner, we know we’ve made the correct decision and I can’t wait to see him over here in 2027.”
Wakefield coach Daryl Powell added: “We believe we have found the perfect fit for our team and the way we play.
“He’s a quality player who is right at the top of all of our data analysis, and he comes highly recommended from all the character references we have gathered from Australia.”
Sydney-born Teague, who will look to add to his five Cook Islands caps at this autumn’s World Cup, is Trinity’s fourth confirmed addition for next year and third from overseas, joining New Zealand Warriors’ superstar back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and St George Illawarra Dragons prop Emre Guler as well as loose-forward Cameron Smith from Leeds Rhinos.
A State Championship winner in 2024 as part of a North Devils side that also included current Super League players Tesi Niu and Cooper Jenkins, Teague said: “Wakefield are an incredibly strong club who are really going places and I hope I can add to that upon joining.”