As most players return for pre-season training, bar those on World Cup duty for England and Australia, the time has come for new signings to get used to their new surroundings, teammates and fans. Some players adapt well to their new environment and slip in seamlessly, becoming a key part of their new club's ethos and culture, others, meanwhile, find it hard to adjust and struggle in their maiden season. I take a look at five signings that have the potential to set Super League alight in 2018.

Garry Lo - Castleford Tigers - Winger

Prior to the World Cup, the name Garry Lo meant little to those outside Papua New Guinea or Sheffield.

But, having scored 50 tries in 46 appearances for Sheffield Eagles in a two-year period as a winger with the South Yorkshire club, Castleford Tigers snapped him up in September of this year. At all of his previous clubs - Mount Hagen Eagles, Port Moresby Vipers, PNG Hunters and Sheffield Eagles - he has been a firm fans' favourite. And, with his performances a this year's World Cup, it is not hard to see why.

Lo must have one of the finest physiques in the game; he stands at just 5 foot 7 yet weighs a monstrous 98kg and does not think twice about using his brute strength to batter opponents both in attack and defence. In his four appearances for PNG at the World Cup, he made an astonishing 576 metres - the highest in the side - as his blockbusting style punched holes through defensive lines like rarely seen before.

And, at just 24 years of age, he is only going to get better and stronger plying his trade with the Tigers in Super League.

With Castleford wingers Greg Eden and Greg Minikin both being forced to undergo surgery at the end of the 2017 season, Lo - if he grasps this opportunity in Super League with both hands - can establish himself as one of Castleford's and Super League's best wingers.

And, if Castleford can replicate their attacking prowess of 2017, Lo will almost certainly continue his remarkable try-scoring record.

Joe Wardle - Castleford Tigers - Centre/Second Row

Whilst overall their signings lack a certain oomph to get the fans excited, Castleford Tigers have done exceptionally well to bring Joe Wardle back to England amidst interest from a number of clubs such as Warrington Wolves.

Scottish international Wardle moved to NRL side Newcastle Knights ahead of the 2017 season after being at Huddersfield Giants since late 2010. But, with a young family in tow, Wardle secured a release from his Knights' contract on account of homesickness and signed a three-year deal with the Tigers ahead of the 2018 season.

Known for his physical capabilities and particularly his strength, Wardle can add some much-needed size to the Castleford side that, on occasions, could not match their opponents' physicality in 2017. After being good enough to be signed by an NRL team whilst at Huddersfield - where he scored 62 tries in 141 appearances - he returns to England with experience and 17 NRL games under his belt.

With a return to West Yorkshire where he grew up (Halifax) and under the tutelage of Super League's Coach of the Year for 2017, Wardle is likely to hit the ground running for his new club. And, still only aged 26, he has still not hit the pinnacle of his career; 2018 may well be the time for that to happen.

Ben Murdoch-Masila - Warrington Wolves - Second Row

After scoring 22 tries in 60 games for Salford Red Devils, Murdoch-Masila became Warrington's fourth signing in what has been a busy pre-season so far for the Cheshire club following their dismal 2017 season. With a £175,000 price tag on his head, the towering back-rower joins the Wolves with much expected of him; however, after a barnstorming World Cup for semi-finalists Tonga, he will not disappoint his new club.

At 6 foot 1 and 114kg, Murdoch-Masila made his presence felt in the Super League in 2017 and was so impressive and destructive out wide that he was named in the Super League Dream Team for the first time as Salford's only representative. And, with new Wolves' boss Steve Price - whom was assistant to Shane Flanagan at Cronulla Sharks when they won the NRL Grand Final in 2016 - aiming to build a side that is "attractive to watch", Murdoch-Masila has all the attributes to become a star for Warrington and a key figure in their charge back to the top of Super League.

Nathaniel Peteru - Leeds Rhinos - Prop

After failing to break through into the first team at NRL side New Zealand Warriors, the Auckland-born Peteru moved to Gold Coast Titans mid-way through the 2015 season on a one-and-a-half-year deal.

With 23 appearances in his locker for the Titans, Leeds Rhinos made a move for him in September 2017 on a three-year deal. At 6 foot 5 and 112kg, Peteru is a giant of a player. And, with a wicked offload and a turn of pace that belies his size, he could be the prop that finally fills the gaping hole left by Leeds legend Kylie Leuluai.

In fact, Peteru even spoke to Leuluai - now the Rhinos' player welfare officer - before making the move. After speaking to Leuluai - a player whom Peteru described as his "boyhood hero" - Peteru was convinced.

Determined to take his game to "the next level", Peteru - aged just 26 - has the potential, the skill, the power and the passion to help the Rhinos kick on from their title-winning season to further greatness in 2018.

Pauli Pauli - Wakefield Trinity - Prop/Second Row

So good they named him twice! Pauli Pauli has nearly 50 NRL games under his belt after playing for Parramatta Eels in 2014 and 2015 and Newcastle Knights in 2016 and 2017. In early January of this year, however, the forward suffered a dislocated hip following a seven-car pile-up on the M1 Pacific Motorway. And, after trying to regain his fitness for the Newcastle side in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW, his season was ended in July after breaking his leg in a match.

These two severe injuries had convinced the Knights to not offer Pauli Pauli another contract, yet Wakefield Trinity did so earlier this month, handing the Australian-born Samoan a one-year contract with the option of another year.

With just a one-year contract, Pauli Pauli will be going all out to impress his new club to earn another deal. And, with his injury nightmare fully behind him, the intimidating forward can find his best form with Wakefield - a club on the up having finished fifth in 2017. With a devastating running game and a superb offload, Pauli Pauli has that special spark - the "x-factor" - that will make his teammates and fans love him and his opponents loathe him. At 125kg and 6 foot 4, he is a real handful, boasting a physical presence that dwarfs almost any opponent.

2018 really could be the time for Pauli Pauli to burst onto the Super League scene and, at just 23, it could prove to be a very shrewd signing indeed.
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