Cayless has added to his pack with the signing of Salesi Ataata
Hull KR have their third signing ahead of the 2027 Super League season(Image: SW Pix)
Hull KR have further bolstered Nathan Cayless’ pack with the signing of Salesi Ataata for the 2027 Super League season.
Ataata joins the Robins on a two-year deal from South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he has been a regular in the reserve ranks alongside Moala Graham-Taufa, who will also be making the switch to Craven Park in the off-season.
The prop becomes KR’s third signing from Down Under over the off-season and he’ll be heading over to East Yorkshire to help Cayless make his mark as he picks up the head coach reins.
New Zealand-born, Ataata spent time coming through the youth ranks at Cronulla Sharks and featured in a pre-season fixture for the New South Wales outfit, while also making six appearances for the Newtown Jets.
He joined Souths ahead of the 2025 season and in the last two years he has made 43 reserve grade outings for the club, with 22 of those coming this campaign. In that time he has scored four tries, too, with his powerful ball carries proving too hot to handle.
“Salesi is a powerful 6’3″ middle,” Cayless said on his latest recruit. “He’s a former centre who’s transitioned into the front row, so he’s powerful, fast and bends the line every time he carries the ball.
“He moves very well defensively and that’s one of the key reasons I was attracted to him as a player.
“I’ve coached against Salesi on numerous occasions, and he’s someone who consistently pops up in our video previews as one of the opposition’s most dangerous players.”
Ataata can be expected to slot straight into a pack that will be without Tevita Pangai Jr and Rhyse Martin following their departures from the club and provide the middle unit with more size and strength.