Ex-Super League player says clubs should consider signing these players

Former Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors winger Karl Pryce has said Super League clubs need to consider signing more players from rugby union.

A player who had a crack at rugby union believes the example of Kyle Evans at Wakefield Trinity who joined Featherstone Rovers for 2023 is a perfect example of the players who can be brought in from rugby union.

“Look at the lad who played for Wales in the World Cup and Wakefield, Kyle Evans. He would be a prime example of the players in rugby union you could bring in because their squads are so big.

“There is untapped potential there. He only joined at the end of his career, imagine if he’d have been picked up before that?”

However, he is concerned that money could get in the way of tempting players over to rugby league.

“It’s whether there would be enough for them in rugby league which comes back to the salary cap.”

That said, he insisted he didn’t move to rugby union for the money.

He said:

“When I went to rugby union, everyone was like, Karl you went for the money. But that wasn’t the ultimate aim, it didn’t work out for me there but I went because there was an opportunity there and I wanted to test myself.”

Meanwhile, it comes as he spoke about the salary cap:

“It’s whatever is sustainable. In an ideal situation it should be increased but it’s not changed much for the last 10 years,” he said.

“With inflation it should be going up, as TV rights come through in Australia, so why is that not happening in Super League? There must be a reason.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell the RFL what they need to do, but hopefully they will be able to soon.

“We want to be able to attract top players and keep our best talent. So we need to be able to give them that financial opportunity.”

Meanwhile, he also believes Super League no longer attracts the top Australians:

“It’s been 20 years since I made my debut. The calibre of players coming over then, the top stars were coming over. I played with Shontayne Hape, Lesley Vainikolo and played against Jamie Lyon and Matt Gidley.

“If you go over there you will play against them week in week out, but they were always coming over here. We were getting the best of Australia coming over.

“Now it’s not happening as much because it’s hard to get them over now with the salary cap difference.”