Hull KR sign forward Mickey Paea from Canterbury

Mickey Paea is Hull KR's seventh signing so far for the 2012 season

New Hull KR coach Craig Sandercock has made his first signing by bringing in Australian forward Mickey Paea.

The younger brother of Catalan Dragons' Lopeni Paea, he arrives from Canterbury Bulldogs on a two-year contract.

Meanwhile, Rovers have handed a first professional contract to young centre Chris Heil.

"Chris is an individual I want to get to know and coach and if he's good enough he's going to be considered," Sandercock told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I'm sure he'll be challenging for spots."

As for 25-year-old Paea, he will follow six other signings to Craven Park, Graeme Horne (Huddersfield), David Hodgson (Huddersfield), Misi Taulapapa (Sheffield Eagles), George Griffin (Queanbeyan) and Crusaders duo Ryan O'Hara and Lincoln Withers.

"He's a proven performer," Sandercock told BBC Radio Humberside. "At the back end of this season at the Bulldogs, Micky Paea was probably their best player.

"I'm very excited by Micky coming on board. He can really put his nose through the line and make a good impact. He runs hard, he's got good leg speed and he's a very hard man to handle."

The addition of Paea and Heil to the Rovers dressing room fills the void left by Mick Vella's retirement, as well as the loss of Clint Newton (Penrith Panthers), Shaun Briscoe (Widnes), Peter Fox (Wakefield) and Harlequins-bound duo Liam Colbon and Matt Cook.