The Ivan Cleary party bus has a new member with one of the game’s top props, Kiwi International Ben Matulino, set to join Wests Tigers next season.

Matulino will replace exiting Wests Tigers captain Aaron Woods who will be leaving the club at the end of the year.

It’s a big win for the embattled Wests Tigers with Matulino saying the chance to work under Cleary again was an offer too good to refuse.

“I’ve always had a close bond with Cleary and he was the main drawcard for me,” Matulino told Radio Sport in New Zealand.

“I know how he operates, seeing what he has done with other teams and I was pretty keen to get on board with that.”

The towering bookend, who emerged as the game’s best forward at the Warriors under Cleary, also admitted to nearly joining the mentor a few years ago at the Penrith Panthers.

“A couple of years back he almost got me to Penrith. I was a couple of days away from signing there and I ended up staying with the Warriors.”

The Wests Tigers are still in the hunt for a fullback and another playmaker to partner Luke Brooks.