Adam Barry, Tom Brough and Joel Cuming will be flown into Newcastle from Brisbane each Sunday morning to play for the Tigers in the Hunter Coast Men's Premier League and back home that evening.

The expense is being covered by sponsors and some Tigers life members, but Cuming is paying for his own airfares.

This will be Barry's second season at the Tigers under the arrangement.

Barry and Brough play in the Brisbane Hockey League on Saturdays for Commercial, a club who have developed a close affiliation with the Tigers over the past 20 years, and Cuming is signed to University.

All three will be unavailable for the Tigers' first-round match tomorrow against premiers South at Broadmeadow, due to cricket semi-finals in Brisbane, but should join the side by round three at the latest.

The Tigers have also signed Taree boy Luke Witchard, Maitland's Tim Lovell and University striker Jared Reeves.

The club's only major loss was goalkeeper Michael Sneesby to Souths.

Despite the signings, Tigers coach Evan Skliros has modest expectations this season.

"Last year we improved from previous years, but it's a slow build-up," he said.

"We'll be hard-pressed playing against the premiers. They're a well-drilled side - they're the benchmark."

In other matches this weekend, heavyweights Norths will be looking to erase their disappointing end to 2009 by beating grand finalists Gosford at Broadmeadow.

Wests will be without classy midfielder John Mayers in their clash with University at Broadmeadow.

The Entrance host Maitland, who have shown strong trial form under new coach Nathan Baker.