Lock Harison Mataele Signs with Seawolves as 2026 Forward Picture Looks More Clear
The Seattle Seawolves announced the signing of internationally capped Tongan lock Harison Mataele on Tuesday, Dec. 9, their second new signing for the 2026 engine room. Between test matches, Pacific Nations Cups, and the 2025 Autumn Nations Series, the 31-year-old, 6-8 forward has been capped 16 times for Tonga alongside eight club appearances for Mont-de-Marsan in the French Pro D2.
Mataele is the fifth official addition to the Seawolves’ roster for 2026 (in addition to returners Dan Kriel, Dewald Kotze, and JP Smith) after Mark Bennett, Davy Coetzer, Marno Redelinghuys, and Paddy Ryan. Like Bennett, Kotze, and (for 2026) Coetzer, Mataele will count as an international player and will thus use one of the Seawolves’ seven international gameday slots whenever he is on a matchday 23. In addition to these four internationals, Seattle may be looking to return some of their other key 2025 international members, but the addition of Mataele to the second row makes a return for Malembe Mpofu less likely.
With both Redelinghuys and Mataele on the roster and longtime Seawolf Rhyno Herbst set to gain domestic status and likely to rejoin the team, the three locks are likely at the top of the depth chart for 2026.