PNG star set for Sheffield bow

Papua New Guinea international Trevor Exton could make his Sheffield debut this weekend after receiving international clearance.

Exton, 26, signed for the Eagles in October but has seen his move help up by trouble getting a UK visa due to minor motoring convictions.

But, after completing a speed-management course, the World Cup star is ready to complete his move and line-up against Hull KR tomorrow.

Eagles Head Coach Mark Aston said: “Trevor will be in the team for the Hull KR game – it’s not a case of being tempted to play him, Trevor will certainly be playing.

“He’s quality player who has appeared in a World Cup and has played at a good level in Australia. Trevor’s the sort of player that we have been missing this season.”

A back-row forward, Exton has been training and playing for Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Cup competition to stay match fit, and will join fellow Papua New Guinean Menzie Yere as well as Samoan Tangi Ropati and Fijian Aaron Groom at the Don Valley.

Aston added: “He’ll come over fighting fit and can go straight into the firing line. We believe the wait will prove to be worth it.”

It’s a timely boost for the Eagles who last week lost back-rower Ged Corcoran to a season ending knee injury.

Corcoran, who played for Ireland in last year’s World Cup, is to have surgery on his left knee that was damaged in the Easter Monday game at Featherstone.

He said: “It’s partly physical but it’s also the mental pressure of expecting part-time players to play three games in a week – that’s outrageous, they don’t even ask Super League players to do that. I’d played against Doncaster on the Thursday and I twisted the knee in the Featherstone game. I went down funny and four players on top didn’t help.”