Star Western Clydesdales centre signs NRL deal with Bulldogs

Star Western Clydesdales centre Melino Fineanganofo has lit up the Hostplus Cup with his hard running, all-action style, and now the 24-year-old is preparing to turn more heads after signing a NRL deal.

Western Clydesdales centre Melino Fineanganofo has signed with NRL club the Canterbury Bulldogs. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Melino Fineanganofo has lit up the Hostplus Cup, and now he is a step closer to living out his rugby league dream.

The hard-hitting, all-action Western Clydesdales centre will join the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL next year.

“It is always an aspiration and dream for any of us playing rugby league, and it was definitely a goal to be noticed, but I didn’t think anything would come out of playing for the Clydesdales until later in the season,” Fineanganofo said on the Clydesdales’ website.

“So it has happened quicker than I thought, and I know it would never have been possible with the support, guidance and belief from Jason (Alchin) and his wife Sheree and family.”

Fineanganofo, who has sat out the Clydesdales’ past two games with a broken finger, is set to line up against Souths Magpies on Sunday, May 28 at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium.

The 24-year-old has a been a standout this season, scoring four tries in seven games and being named in the Hostplus Cup Team of the Week four times in a row.

He has run 957m this season and produced six try assists.

Fineanganofo will join the Bulldogs pre-season in November with the aim of being named in the Top 30 squad for the 2024 season.