Head Coach Filo Tiatia and Senior Coach Dale MacLeod have spoken about their relationship with new signing Terrell Peita – with the trio ready to be reunited next season.
Dragons have confirmed that back row forward Peita will link-up with the club next season after finishing up his spell with Auckland Blues in Super Rugby Pacific.
Peita needs no introduction to Tiatia who worked with him during coaching days at Auckland.
“Terrell will be a great addition to the group. He’s a robust loose forward, a physical player who will fight for this club,” said Tiatia.
“I coached Terrell when he was younger and he debuted with me when I was coaching with Auckland in the NPC.
“He’s a good young Māori boy, has a clear identity and knows who he is, and will come here with open arms to learning and will submerge himself in the club.
“Terrell is someone I trust and who Dale (MacLeod) and I’ve worked with. He’s a good character, diligent around work and he’ll bring something different and is what we need.
“Now I’d like our community to really embrace him when he comes in, he is still young and only 25, and really get to know him. His actions will do his talking.”
MacLeod also had recent close connections with Peita after they worked together at Northland in the NPC.
“Terrell is a team person first with some real good qualities,” said MacLeod.
“He'll really add to our environment and add to our culture. He's tough and uncompromising. I know how deep he can go into the well, and he carries well, tackles well.
“He's the sort of player that will give us big numbers, both sides of the ball and most of all, he's just a good man, first and foremost.
“I suppose if you look at any loose forward players in the world today, they're all athletic, powerful, fast, and he fits that mix and very professional in everything he does,” he added.
“He'll come and absorb what Welsh people are about and what Dragons are about, and he'll add to that. He has a massive Māori upbringing and heritage, he's a proud man, and he will definitely add to our group and the legacy of the club.
“Terrell is a caring person - but he's serious on the grass. The boys will love him, I know that. He'll come here and earn the respect, which is important to him, and I know he's excited about it.
“He’ll be his own man and he's going to bring his own flavour, and it'll be good for our group."
I’d like our community to really embrace him when he comes in, he is still young and only 25, and really get to know him. His actions will do his talking...
