The ACT Brumbies hope Solomone Kata can be the missing link in their back line, adamant he can become a midfield cannonball after quitting the NRL.
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The Brumbies announced Kata's arrival on Wednesday afternoon and the former New Zealand Warrior all but completes the roster for the 2020 Super Rugby season.
The club is also understood to have launched talks with Pete Samu and Folau Faingaa about their long-term futures as coach Dan McKellar builds a squad for sustained success.
The 24-year-old was a schoolboy rugby prodigy in New Zealand, but was snapped up by the Warriors and played 93 games in the NRL before deciding to make a code swap.
Kata has already been likened to Ngani Laumape, who played for the Warriors before moving to rugby and then forcing his way into the All Blacks squad.
The Brumbies want to use his 177 centimetre, 104 kilogram frame as the X-factor addition to a new-look back line.
"He gives us a point of difference," said Brumbies backs coach Peter Hewat.
"He's big, he's powerful and low to the ground. He's going to bring that power game we need in our back line and the carry power.
"Moving forward, he can cover a number of positions from No. 12 out so I'm really looking forward to getting him involved.
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"He's going to bring that dynamic power in our midfield. We're going to miss Henry [Speight's] carry power, so picking up Solomone is a real bonus for us."
Kata made a mid-season switch to the Melbourne Storm this season after being dropped by Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.
He had an option to stay with the Storm for next year, but instead decided to sign a two-year deal with the Brumbies.
Kata played six Tests for Tonga and five for New Zealand, as well as scoring 46 tries in his 93 games for the Warriors.
The first of his tries came at Canberra Stadium in the 2015 season, making the capital a happy hunting ground for the destructive ball runner.
Kata joins Cadeyrne Neville, Will Miller, Lachlan Lonergan and Nic White in signing Brumbies contracts, although Wallabies scrumhalf White won't arrive in the capital until the 2021 season.
Samu and Faingaa still have a year left on their contracts, but the Brumbies are making moves to lock them in as key pieces of the puzzle for the coming years.
Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Banks, Rob Valetini, Tom Cusack and Darcy Swain have already recommitted, giving McKellar a core to work with.
The challenge will be replacing experience after the departure of Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight, David Pocock, Sam Carter and Rory Arnold.
A trio of rising playmakers will battle for the No. 10 jersey, with Reesjan Pasitoa, Noah Lolesio and Bayley Kuenzle preparing for their first Super Rugby campaigns.
Swain, Neville, Blake Enever and Nick Frost will cover the lock spots, Miller and Cusack will compete for the openside flanker role and Kata has added strikepower to the wings.
"We were looking for a powerful back, a bigger body and someone who can dent a defensive line," McKellar said.
"With Solomone coming, that's pretty much it now for our squad for next year.
"We've been planning and discussing about how we can get better, things we did well or things we need to tweak. We're not sitting back thinking 2019 will repeat itself.
"We've lost some senior players, but there's still a core group who have been at our club for a long time. There will be a new feel, but it's exciting."
Brumbies players are nearing the end of a long season, with Canberra Vikings finals duties and World Cup action to complete their 2019 campaigns before starting pre-season training on November 18.
BRUMBIES 2020 DRAW
January 31: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
February 7: ACT Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
February 15: ACT Brumbies v Otago Highlanders at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
February 22: Waikato Chiefs v ACT Brumbies at Hamilton, 5.05pm.
March 8: Japan Sunwolves v ACT Brumbies at Osaka, 3.15pm.
March 15: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm.
March 21: Auckland Blues v ACT Brumbies at Eden Park, 5.35pm.
March 27: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies at Brisbane, 7.15pm.
April 4: ACT Brumbies v Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
April 12: ACT Brumbies v Argentina Jaguares at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm.
April 25: Durban Sharks v ACT Brumbies at Durban, 10.05pm.
May 3: Pretoria Bulls v ACT Brumbies at Pretoria, 1.45am.
May 9: ACT Brumbies v Cape Town Stormers at TBC, 7.15pm.
May 15: Melbourne Rebels v ACT Brumbies at Melbourne, 7.15pm.
May 23: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies at Parramatta, 7.15pm.
May 29: ACT Brumbies v Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
June 6: Week one finals
June 13: Week two finals
June 20: Grand final