Wigan beat Saints for Vaealiki

Wigan have signed the New Zealand Test centre David Vaealiki from Parramatta on a three-year deal starting next season. Vaealiki fills the club's obvious gap in the back line after they missed out on the Australian Mark Gasnier and St Helens' Martin Gleeson.

Wigan have signed the New Zealand Test centre David Vaealiki from Parramatta on a three-year deal starting next season. Vaealiki fills the club's obvious gap in the back line after they missed out on the Australian Mark Gasnier and St Helens' Martin Gleeson.

Maurice Lindsay, the Wigan chairman, who persuaded Parramatta to release Vaealiki early, said: "David is a player I discussed when I was in Sydney, but he was under contract to 2005."

The St Helens coach, Ian Millward, admitted to making an enquiry about Vaealiki as a replacement for Gleeson, who signed for Warrington last week. He added that he had been promised funds by his board to recruit a new centre. "I won't say I wasn't disappointed at Martin going, but I've been assured that it was a one-off," he said.

Wise Kativerata, the Fijian winger, announced as a signing by Widnes earlier this week, will not be coming to Britain after all because he has been unable to obtain a work permit.

Huddersfield are set to sign Chris Thorman, the half-back who played for them and the London Broncos before going to Australia this year to try his luck with Parramatta.

The Hull KR forward, Dale Holdstock, has failed in his appeal against a four-month suspension for striking an opponent.