Marty Lisiua captain-coached the Lake Macquarie Roos last year but will wear number eight for the Bay when the Newcastle competition gets underway on April 10.

It is unlikely that Lisiua will captain the Gropers, with flanker Matthew Affleck expected to retain the job, but the club is looking to use his imposing leadership nonetheless.

"We were really looking for a bit of leadership and Marty obviously has a very experienced head on his shoulders," Gropers communication officer Anthony Workman said.

The 41-year-old Lisiua was recruited to the Roos last year to revive the struggling Lake Macquarie outfit, which he did to a degree steering them to a sixth place finish after placing eighth the year before.

The embattled Bay will aim to use Lisiua to similar effect, and that is fine by him.

"I like the challenge of going to these clubs and helping them out, it keeps it interesting," he said.

"It doesn't worry me at all [what position] I play, I just enjoy playing and helping out the club."

When questioned about his age and whether he had more than one season left in him Lisiua said "I enjoy it too much."

"When you do give it up, that's it."

Lisiua has played rugby league and union in the Hunter since moving to the region for the 1991 season.

In his rugby career he featured in the front row for NSW Country and the Newcastle Wildfires when they played in the Sydney competition, and he represented the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs for six years in the Newcastle Rugby League.

The Gropers are playing down suggestions there was a significant payment involved in recruiting Lisiua, but will cover travel costs from Newcastle to the Bay.

At the front of the pack the Gropers will welcome UK prop Reece Ling, who has reportedly played several years at a national level in England.

And 20-year-old Dylan Kerr from the Nelson region in New Zealand will play five-eighth.