Modern-day Rugby League Greats Who Conquered the NRL
(Published on BBC Sport, May 2023)
While the salary cap disparity between the Super League and the NRL continues to widen, British players have remained a dominant force in Australia’s premier competition. Names like Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis, and James Graham have carved out illustrious careers in the NRL after honing their skills in the Super League. Currently, the likes of Dom Young, Morgan Smithies, and John Bateman are holding their own against the best down under.
Looking to continue this trend, Lewis Dodd will make the move to South Sydney Rabbitohs next season, hoping to overcome the challenge that has notoriously plagued modern-day English half-backs in the NRL. However, according to former NRL, State of Origin, and Kangaroos great Matt Adamson, there are several players from the Super League era who would have thrived in the Australian competition had they made the switch.
Adamson, who enjoyed a successful playing career in both the NRL and Super League, including a 2004 Grand Final triumph with Leeds Rhinos, has been scouting talent for various clubs in both competitions. In a recent interview with Serious About Rugby League, he highlighted six British players from his generation who he believes would have been huge successes in the NRL.
Lee Briers, the iconic Warrington Wolves playmaker, is singled out by Adamson as a certain NRL superstar, had he made the move. Despite never lifting the Super League trophy, Briers’ glittering career, which included a key role in Warrington’s 2010 and 2012 Challenge Cup victories, suggests he would have seamlessly adapted to the demands of the NRL.
Adamson also highlights the “outstanding talent” of Sean Long, the former St Helens halfback who was part of the last British side to defeat Australia in a test match, back in the 2006 Tri-Nations series. Long’s trophy-laden career in the Super League would have likely translated to similar success in the NRL.
Similarly, Adamson believes that Keiron Cunningham, the legendary St Helens hooker, and Danny McGuire, the prolific Leeds Rhinos try-scorer, would have been dominant figures in the NRL had they chosen to ply their trade in Australia. Adamson’s former Leeds captain, the decorated Kevin Sinfield, is also named as a player who possessed the necessary attributes to thrive in the NRL.
The final player highlighted by Adamson is the diminutive Leeds Rhinos legend, Rob Burrow. Known for his electric pace and unplayable performances, Burrow’s unique skillset would have, in Adamson’s view, translated seamlessly to the NRL stage.
As the gap between the two competitions continues to grow, the legacy of these Super League greats serves as a testament to the depth of talent that has emerged from the British game. While the modern-day Brits continue to make their mark in the NRL, the hypothetical success of these players only further underscores the enduring impact of the Super League on the global Rugby League landscape.
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