Exciting young hooker Manaia Cherrington has signed on to play for the Sharks in 2017.

A member of the New Zealand squad for the 2015 Four Nations tournament, the 21-year-old Cherrington has agreed to a one-year deal.

Currently at the Tigers, Cherrington is an explosive dummy half runner and with the retirement of Michael Ennis has the perfect opportunity to establish himself in the top grade at the Sharks next season.

After putting pen to paper on a contract, Cherrington expressed his excitement about joining the Sharks next year.

“The boys here at the Sharks are going really well, it’s exciting times and I can’t wait to be a part of it,” Cherrington said.

A teammate of Sharks backline star Gerard Beale in the New Zealand Four Nations squad last year, Cherrington will be reacquainting himself with his Kiwi counterpart in 2017.

“I spoke to him (Gerard) and he is really excited for me and I’m looking forward to getting started in November,” he said.

Hailing from Whangarei in New Zealand’s far north, Cherrington moved to Australia as a 10-year-old and has come through the grades at Balmain with the likes of Luke Brooks and Mitch Moses. He also represented the Junior Kiwis in 2013 and 2014.

Since making his debut in 2015 Cherrington has played 16 games in the NRL, 11 last year and five matches so far in 2016.

Cherrington will arrive at the Sharks in November for the start of pre-season training, joining fellow youngsters such as Jack Bird, Valentine Holmes and Fa'amanu Brown in the Sharks NRL full-time squad.