England legend James Graham believes that Harry Newman won’t be the only English, or Super League, player to move to the NRL, after his move to the Perth Bears was confirmed earlier this week.
Newman joined incoming Catalans Dragons half-back Toby Sexton as the Bears’ first two recruits, as they start to build a squad ready for their NRL inclusion in 2027.
Perth need to recruit a squad of around 30 players ahead their first-ever game, and currently sit on four after also signing the London Broncos duo of Emarly Bitungane and Luke Smith.
Players already established in the NRL will make up the majority of the club’s recruits, but after missing out on multiple big name signings already, Mal Meninga has work to do if he wants to make his side competitive right from the off.
Speaking on his podcast, The Bye Round, Graham believes England is the place that Meninga should be looking at when it comes to recruitment, with former Catalans half-back and NRL Grand Final winner, Luke Keary, agreeing.
Keary posed the question to the England legend, as he asked whether the Super League could be a valuable place for Perth to pick up players.
“Do you think they need to dip their finger in England more? They obviously got Harry Newman, the Leeds centre. Toby [Sexton]’s obviously over there… and then coming over to the Bears next year. Do they look again?” said the recently retired playmaker.
“…Kind of in that Canberra mould where they got Bateman and Whitehead and Hodgson. They’ve missed a couple of these NRL boys now… there’s some really quality players over there too that I know they want a crack at NRL, you’re Welsby’s and things like that.”
Graham responded, saying how it would not only benefit Perth, but the England national team too, if more of their stars were playing in Australia.
“They’d be foolish not to go there,” he replied. “Obviously, they’ve shown interest in Newman, who’s a really good player there for Leeds. He made the England squad, played in the last test.
“I reckon there’ll be a few on the shopping list. It makes sense too, and there’s other clubs as well. We were speaking to [Anthony] Seibold [Manly Sea Eagles coach] and he said he’s getting offered players from England.
“There’s a huge appetite for players to come over here and play in the NRL. I think it would be great for the English national side to have more players over here.
“If you look at who’s available in the NRL, if there’s [Super League] contracts that are coming to the end of their terms, then I reckon Perth will be looking at it and even looking at players who have an NRL clause or have that desire.”
Keary concurred, saying: “I think England’s the spot where they can get a few of the big names out for an opportunity. There’s some guys over there who can definitely play NRL. They just need the opportunity.”
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