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Willows welcomes Aussie trio

31/ 1/2001

THREE big-hitters to stiffen the pack - just what the doctor ordered if you ask most Salford fans - and that's what the club paraded in front of the nation's Press.

Mark Corvo, Greg Ebrill and Darren Treacy look set to toughen up the Reds' front six who, in recent seasons, have failed to compete with the likes of Bradford and St Helens in the battle in the trenches.

Corvo - whose brother Alex is already ensconced in Seedley as Salford's conditioner - is a powerful prop captured from Brisbane Broncos, where he stepped into the shoes previously filled by Harvey Howard.

Corvo has tasted the atmosphere at The Willows once before, when he arrived as an Adelaide Ram in 1997. The Reds won 14-12 that night, and the Aussie powerhouse remembers it well.

"I'll never forget the experience. I remember driving to the place and thinking 'my god, where are we?' To be honest, I'd rather be here as a Salford player than on the other side," he added.

Ebrill, the youngest at only 22, cut his teeth with Manly and Northern Eagles before deciding the time was right to test himself in Super League. Conspicuous around the club because he's 'always, always smiling', Greg managed one try in 17 games last season and will give Reds coach Steve McCormack options in the second row.

Darren Treacy, who made his first team debut against Halifax three weeks ago, couldn't be more different. At the age of 30 he's experienced most things in the game during stints with Newcastle Knights and St Geogre-Illawarra, including defeat in the 1999 NRL Grand Final.

"I had two years to run on my contract with the Dragons and they tried to sign me for another two," he said, "but I asked them to let me go so I could come over here and have a go."

Director of rugby, Steve Simms, said: "They have all played at the highest level at NRL. All the backs and wingers get the accolades, but most game are won by the forwards. If you haven't got a strong pack, you are going to among the also-rans.

"Once we get our strongest pack onto the field it is going to be up there with the best of them."