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Every year a large contingent of NRL players, both established stars and wannabees, leave the NRL for the English Super League seeking adventure, fame, or just an opportunity to prolong their playing careers and earn a few more dollars.
Some even discover a distant English relative and end up playing for England or Scotland. The ESL is awash with former NRL players, and for most, it marks the end of their NRL careers, with only the very few returning to play in Australia. This year was no exception, and here’s a team of NRL players who have headed to the ESL in 2022. I wonder if we’ll see any of them again in the NRL?
Dufty hit the ground running when he debuted for the Dragons in 2017, and he put enough pressure on incumbent fullback Josh Dugan to see the test and origin star move to the Sharks the following year. Dufty was an absolute weapon in attack but his defensive failings and weakness under the high ball ultimately found him out, both at the Dragons and at the Bulldogs in 2022.
This will be Naiqama’s second coming in the ESL after just one game and 7 appearances during the 2022 season for the Roosters. Huddersfield will be hoping some of the winning form and success he had during his stint with St Helens, where he won three championships and a Challenge Cup, will rub off on the Giants.
Another very solid performer who rarely let his team down, Opacic never really hit the heights during his time with the Cowboys, Broncos and Eels. The biggest surprise was that he headed to England rather than reunite with his home club of Redcliffe.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Marsters debuted at just 21 years of age and probably lacked the maturity to go with his power and size. Still, he did well enough at the Tigers for three years, but his form subsequently drifted somewhat during his stays with both the Cowboys and Titans. Along with Brad Takairangi, he formed one of the biggest halves combinations that the World Cup has ever seen, when he ran out as halfback for the Cook Islands against PNG in the 2022 series.
Taufua was a Manly institution before a series of injuries and the speed of the game caught up with him, but I suspect he’ll be a “big hit” in England in more ways than one.
Remember when Hoy was going to be the next big thing at Newcastle? It seems he’s leaving the club at just the wrong time now that Ponga is rumoured to be shifting from fullback, but I have no doubt he’ll be back in the NRL within a couple of years.
Clifford looked to be the heir apparent to Johnathan Thurston at the Cowboys, and despite a good start, injuries and inconsistent form saw him fall out of favour and join the Knights in 2021, where he didn’t fare much better. Clifford is one of those players who seem to have a lot of time, and the pace of the game in England will really suit him.
Jake Clifford (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Vaughan has played at the highest level but was infamously sacked by the Dragons after the team barbecue fiasco during the Covid lockdown. He had a strong season with the Bulldogs in 2022 and surprisingly wasn’t encouraged to stay on. He won’t have any problem with the opposition in the ESL.
Given his famous father, a lot was expected of Lam but he couldn’t nail down a permanent spot in first grade during his time at the Roosters. I wonder if we’ll see him in the English team sometime in the next couple of years.
Kennedy is a giant of a man who left Souths for the Broncos to increase his opportunities, only to find himself playing as an almost permanent bench option. I’m sure we’ll see him in the run on side for HKR every week though.
McGuire achieved nearly everything but a premiership during his 14-year career with the Broncos, Cowboys and Dragons. He also played 14 origins for QLD and 15 tests for Samoa and Australia. I wonder if the ESL is ready for him.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Proctor had a decorated career, sprinkled with some regrets, including the vaping incident that saw him punted by the Titans. He won a premiership with Melbourne and played 22 tests for his country.
Taukeiaho had a deserved reputation as one of the best front rowers in the game in recent years and has had an outstanding career with the Roosters, with whom he won two premierships. He’ll really up the ante for the Catalans.
Smith’s versatility has been both a blessing and a curse and has seen him play nearly half of his NRL career off the bench, rather than lock down a run on position during his time with Penrith, Parramatta and the Titans.
Alvaro is a big unit with a good motor and some ball skills to go with it. He seems to have been around for a long time but is only 29. He’s just made for the ESL.
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Speaking of big units they don’t come much bigger than Mikaele. It was quite a surprise to see him leave Wests and head to England at such a young age, but I suspect that he’ll be back before long.
Sue is as tough as an army boot and gave great service to Wests, Canterbury and Newcastle during his career, playing primarily off the bench, and he also notched up 10 appearances for Samoa.
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