.. Signed a 2 year deal with us.
Samoan international. Can play hooker, & second row (According to wiki)

Anybody know about him?

Any relation to Ken Sio at Hull KR?

Do we need another hooker having just signed Howarth? Surely we have have other priorities first.

This signing all but confirms that one or both of McShane or Godinet will be gone next year

It would have been nice to have
6. Godinet
9. McShane

14. Sio

but having just signed Howarth on an 18 month contract I can't see him being replaced.

The only other combination would be
3. Sio
6. Godinet
9. McShane

14. Howarth

I was kind of thinking for this year which has to take priority. Could be wrong but i'm not finding anything anywhere that Sio has ever played centre? It seems his preferred position is hooker and has played a bit of 13. It makes me worry that maybe McShane is on his way sooner rather than later which, if it happen, would be a blow as i rate him highly.

Suspect Howarth may be out for a while way his arm was dangling yesterday. This signing allows Godinet to remain at Stand off

I've always felt we need more cover at hooker anyway.
Howarth isn't so bad at hooker but proves the point that if he or McShane is injured we have to lose our one strike player from half back. Three hookers better for end of season with Howarth able to cover back row too..

Makes the Howarth signing completely pointless this guy best position hooker. Keep saying it year on year the club has no money but year on year make pointless signings. Howarth is a very poor hooker.

As poor as you think he is, he is still a damn sight better hooker than you are a supporter!

Howarth ain't a hooker, if nothing else Sunday highlighted this fact. Credit to the lad for staying on despite an obvious injury, but ensuring we have two specialist 9's rather than converted backrowers is a step forward.

Nothing but a gut feeling, but I think Howarth will play back row more than he will hooker.

Sio appears to be someone who can cover a number of positions so I'm looking forward to him getting started. I hope it also means Godinet will get a prolonged run at #6.

Bazzo - Souns like there may be more to come - Any further info?

Spot on. I wonder if there is one Troll out there with 3 user names. No prizes for guessing the three.

Why do we still refer to this position as hooker anyway as this particular skill was defunked years ago. For me i would play three big forwards in the front row and the holy trinity of scrum half, stand off and loose forward at the back the later three being the crucial link up with the three quarters. The loose forward has to have a good pair of hands the likes of derek turner and the brilliant Knocker Norton, these positions are the positions that have made teams tick in the past.

Agree with this.
Howarth is a steady enough player when in the 'hooker' role but I prefer him at loose forward, where I believe he played in his last stint with us. He has the skills to be a good loose forward. He's a grafter and I for one am pleased he's re-joined us.