It's been one of the missing pieces to the puzzle since Blake Ferguson was shown the door, but Canberra Raiders players are confident Joey Leilua is the man to fill their strike centre void.
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Hours after being granted an immediate release by Newcastle, Leilua revealed in an Instagram video taken on Monday by Canterbury forward Frank Pritchard he was heading to the nation's capital.
Raiders Sam Williams and Jack Wighton were unsure of the club's plans to sign him before the June 30 deadline, claiming to know nothing more than what had appeared on social media.
"I'm not too sure where things are with BJ [Leilua], his Instagram account says he might be coming down here," Williams said.
"He's a quality player, he'd add a lot to this squad.
"He's certainly a strong, aggressive ball runner and I've seen him put on a few big hits as well. That depth and players really pushing each other for that first grade spot makes a club."
Ferguson's departure in 2013 and Wighton's shift to fullback this year means the Raiders have been on the lookout for a class centre to slot in on the right edge.
Melbourne Storm recruit Sisa Waqa has done a solid job since moving there from the wing, but Leilua will provide the big body the Raiders back-line has lacked.
The 23-year-old Samoan international is considered no chance to make his Raiders debut against North Queensland on Saturday as the club works towards making his signing official.
The Raiders named an unchanged side for the Canberra Stadium clash, when they will try to stop the Cowboys securing an 11th straight win.
"Having left the Raiders for St George Illawarra and later France's Catalans Dragons in 2014, Williams knows what it's like to make a mid-season switch to a team in another town.
But he didn't believe it would be an issue for Leilua.
"It's a pretty professional environment these days, you're always facing new players and different coaches and things like that," he said. "It's not something I think will be too big an impact if he ended up coming down."
Fullback Wighton predicted Leilua's arrival would put some players on notice.
"We've all been doing our job and he's just going to be an extra bonus for the team if he turns up, putting pressure on other players and we'll have other players putting pressure on him to perform also," he said.
"We've got a great club culture and that's the way we want things ... for everyone to have pressure put on them and perform at their best.
"I don't know what Sticky's (coach Ricky Stuart) got planned, but he's the only one that knows at the moment I think.
"If he turns up (this week), I guess he'll be part of the team.
"He's a big powerhouse and he's got great skills all around the park, so he'd be a great addition if he did come down."
Raiders team to play North Queensland: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Sisa Waqa, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Paul Vaughan, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. David Shillington, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Iosia Soliola, 13. Shaun Fensom, 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Jarrad Kennedy, 16. Frank-Paul Nuuausala, 17. Shannon Boyd
with AAP
