NRL striker Bayley Sironen moves to Super League after leaving New Zealand Warrior

The Catalan Dragons have signed striker Bayley Sironen on a two-year deal after he left the NRL’s New Zealand Warriors.

The 26-year-old back-rower is the younger brother of St Helens powerhouse Curtis and the son of former Australian international Paul.

Sironen has made 81 NRL appearances for the Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs and New Zealand Warriors since making his first grade debut in 2017.

Catalan football coach Steve McNamara said:
Steve McNamara said:
“Bayley is an ambitious young player with a wealth of NRL experience who will be a great addition to our squad.

“He is a player that players love to play with and coaches love to coach. “He will mainly start in the second line position but his versatility will also give us many options.”

Bayley Sironen ‘excited’ to be joining Catalans Dragons

Sironen, who can also play loose forward and half-back, says he is looking forward to making the move over to the south of France.

He said: “I am very excited to be coming to such a competitive club, I was really impressed with what Steve had to say and the way he spoke when meeting the coach and I have heard such good things from people who have represented the club in the past.

“I’m looking forward to hopefully bringing more success to the Dragons and can’t wait to move over and get to work.”

Sironen becomes Catalans’ fifth new signing for 2024, joining fellow newbies Chris Satae (Hull FC), Theo Fages (Huddersfield), Tariq Sims (Melbourne Storm) and Jayden Nikorima (Melbourne Storm) in Perpignan.

The Dragons are just 80 minutes away from the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford. They host champions St Helens at the Stade Gilbert Brutus on Friday night in the play-off semi-finals.

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The New Zealand Warriors second row, 26, has signed a two-year deal with Catalans Dragons.

Sironen said: “I am very excited to be coming to such a competitive club, I was really impressed with what Steve had to say and the way he spoke when meeting the coach and I have heard such good things from people who have represented the club in the past. I’m looking forward to hopefully bringing more success to the Dragons and can’t wait to move over and get to work.”

The forward started his career in New South Wales Cup with Wests Tigers reserve team before making his professional debut with the team in NRL in August 2017.

After 2 NRL appearances with Wests Tigers, he moved to South Sydney Rabbitohs. With limited opportunities in the Rabbitohs’ squad where he played five games in his first two NRL seasons with the club, he established himself as a frontline player for the Rabbitohs in 2020 appearing in 19 games to lift his career tally to 24.

In 2021, he joined the New Zealand Warriors and quickly became a key player of the Warriors’ squad. With 56 NRL appearances, he reached the NRL semi-finals.

A versatile player, able to play as a second row, lock or five-eighth. Bayley Sironen is set to discover the Super League with Catalans Dragons after 80 appearances in 6 NRL seasons.

Steve McNamara said: “Bayley is a young ambitious player with lots of NRL experience who will be a great addition to our squad. He is a player that players love to play alongside and coaches love to coach. He will primarily come as a 2nd row but his versatility will also give us many options.”