By Martin Morgan

Last updated 12:59, Wednesday, 01 October 2008

Departing Whitehaven ace Saia Makisi is relishing a fresh challenge after signing for 10-time French champs Carcassonne.

Saia Makisi: Carcassonne-bound

But he may be back at the Recre next term if the RFL opts, as some believe they are considering, to double the import quota to two players.

“I have signed for Carcassonne and their season starts in October and I think finishes in March,” Makisi said.

“I’m looking forward to it, and it’s going to be a good experience going over to a different country.”

He has not spoken to Haven about a potential return next term, though he would relish another crack at NL1.

“We’ll see what happens with the quota spot,” Makisi added. “If it goes up to two, we’ll go from there.”

Haven’s one current quota place has gone to Aussie Dan Russell, short-listed for the NL2 player-of-the-year honour after guiding Gateshead to League Two honours.

Russell and Makisi were team-mates in North Sydney’s reserve-grade and the Tongan believes the scrum-half will be a big hit at the Recre.

“He’s a real competitor,” Makisi said. “He can play loose-forward, in the halves or hooker, and he’s a good organiser on the field. Whitehaven have made a good signing.”

Makisi has still heard nothing about a call-up to the Tonga squad for the forthcoming World Cup in Australia.

Tonga have named a 40-man squad but some players are expected to drop out of the reckoning.