Every year a large contingent of NRL players, both established stars and wannabees, leave the NRL for the English Super League seeking either the opportunity to improve or just to prolong their playing careers and earn a few more dollars.
Some even discover a distant relative and end up playing for England, Scotland, etc.
The Super League is awash these days with former NRL players, and for most, it marks the last stop of their careers, with only a very few returning. This year was no exception, and here’s a team of NRL players who have headed north already or are on their way in 2024.
I wonder if we’ll see any of them again in the NRL?
1. Moses Mbye (St George Illawarra to St Helens) – Mbye is a very experienced and versatile player, and at 30 years of age, should be a great success at Saints. Look for him to appear in the Super League Dream Team in 2024.
2. Jayden Okunbur (Canterbury-Bankstown to Hull FC) – At just under 2 metres tall, nearly 110kg and with a good turn of pace, Okunbur has all the physical attributes to have enjoyed more success than shown in just 45 top grade games across five seasons with the Dogs.
3. Peta Hiku (North Queensland to Hull Kingston Rovers) – If any player’s career kicks on after making the move to the UK it will be Hiku, a vastly experienced and often underrated performer who will appreciate the slower pace of the game in the northern hemisphere.
4. Paul Momirovski (Sydney Roosters to Leeds Rhinos) – Five seasons, four clubs, 60 games and one premiership. It’s been an interesting journey for Momirovski, who is a very effective centre at his best, and he should be a hit in the UK.
5. Lachlan Miller (Newcastle to Leeds Rhinos) – I hope the English players do their homework on Miller, because if they give him even the slightest bit of space he’ll be gone in a flash. He’s my early tip for Super League leading try scorer for next season.
6. Jayden Nikorima (Melbourne to Catalans Dragons) – Nikorima has spent the last seven years trying to make it in the NRL, and with just nine first grade games to his name in that time, he probably can’t do any worse in the Old Dart.
7. Matt Frawley (Canberra to Leeds Rhinos) – Frawley is another honest toiler and good club man who can be very effective on his day, and his move won’t hold many surprises for him as he spent a season with Huddersfield back in 2019.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
8. Luke Thompson (Canterbury-Bankstown to Wigan Warriors) – To say that the English international’s time in the NRL has been disappointing is an understatement, as poor form together with ongoing injuries saw him play just over 40 games for the Dogs over four years. Not a good return on their multimillion-dollar investment.
9. Kruise Leeming (Gold Coast to Wigan Warriors) – Yet another Englishman returning home after failing to make an impact in the NRL, Leeming is a far better player than he showed in his time with the Titans.
10. Herman Ese’ese (Dolphins to Hull FC) – 2023 was probably big Herman’s best season in the NRL since he debuted way back in 2015, and he has both the size and ball-playing skills to be a success in the UK.
11. Tariq Sims (Melbourne to Catalans Dragons) – Soon to turn 34, surely this will be Sims’ last hurrah, and although he’s lost some of the fire of his heyday, any playmaker with an ounce of sense will be looking nervously over his shoulder as they get the ball away.
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Newcastle to Warrington Wolves) – Fitzgibbon has been a great competitor for the Knights and it was a big surprise to see him head to the UK. The Knights’ loss is the Wolves’ gain.
13. Bayley Sironen (NZ Warriors to Catalans Dragons) – Sironen is a versatile forward and has been in the best form of his career during his time with the Warriors. He looks to be another player who will prove to be a success in the UK.
14. Jack Murchie (Parramatta to Huddersfield Giants) – At 26, Murchie is a relatively young player who still has time to make his mark in the top grade. He’s a better player than the 45 first grade appearances across six years in the NRL would suggest.
15. Franklin Pele (Canterbury-Bankstown to Hull FC) – This 22-year-old colossus is going to surprise a lot of opponents when he runs out against them next season. At over 190cm, weighing in at 130-odd kilos and with a good turn of speed, he’s going to become the wrecking ball in the UK. Just keep him away from the buffet.
16. Zane Musgrove (St George Illawarra to Warrington Wolves) – Big, lazy and with more baggage than a Greyhound bus, Musgrove will most likely disappear off the radar.
17. Thomas Mikaele (Gold Coast to Warrington Wolves) – Now make up your mind Thomas. The big bopper left the Tigers to join Warrington midway through the 2022 season only to return to Australia and the Titans in early 2023, played just one first grade game and then returned to Warrington. Confused? I don’t blame you.