Dapto have built up their frontrow in a big way with the signing of experienced props Chris Leikvoll and Shaun Wessel for the 2008 Illawarra Carlton League season.
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Leikvoll and Wessel joined their Canaries team-mates for the club's first official training session at Reed Park on Tuesday under the guidance of new head coach Dean Callaway.
For Leikvoll it's a return to his junior club and where, as an 18-year-old, he played in Dapto's first grade premiership-winning team in 1994.
Leikvoll went on to play for the Illawarra Steelers and St George Illawarra Dragons, including the 1999 NRL grand final, and then Super League club Warrington from 2004 where he was the cornerstone of their forward pack before returning home recently.
"It'll be good. I've just finished up in England and I've had a fair stint there," Leikvoll said.
"I'm looking forward to helping some of the young guys out and probably teach them a bit if I can ... just looking forward to getting the jersey back on and playing again."
The towering Wessel is pleased to be back in the Illawarra and looking forward to playing for Dapto.
As a youngster Wessel came through the Junior Steelers program and then won the Illawarra first grade player of the year award in 2001 before stints with NRL clubs Northern Eagles (Manly) and Cronulla, and also in France.
He played for the Wollongong Bulls in 2004 and most recently in the Newcastle league from where he represented the division and Country Firsts.
"I'm stoked to be back in the Gong," Wessel said.
"I'm really looking forward to playing for Dapto with players like Kenty (Jason Kent) and Matty (Rieck) and all the boys."
Callaway said both Leikvoll and Wessel would be major assets for the club.
"They're tremendous. Shaun we picked up at the end of last season through his association with Matty Rieck and Jason Kent which was tremendous," Callaway said.
"Chris was unfortunate not to pick up another contract back over in England and being an old Dapto boy he came home and wanted to play, so it's great to have a player of his experience and stature in the game returning to where it all started for him."
