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OPINION: 5 Super League players who could make it in the NRL

This season has seen English talent showcased in the NRL more than ever before.

There are currently 12 English players plying their trade down under, with the likes of John Bateman, Elliott Whitehead and Gareth Widdop all taking the competition by storm.

With this in mind, we thought we’d take a look at five current English Super League players who we think could cut it down under.

Luke Thompson (St Helens)

St Helens enforcer Thompson has already attracted NRL interest, with South Sydney and Canterbury reportedly keeping tabs on him. The 24-year-old made his England debut last season and is being tipped by many as a future world beater, with his strong carries and powerful defence attracting plenty of admirers. English props have a successful record in the NRL and Thompson fits a similar mould to the likes of Morley, Burgess and Graham.

Jake Connor (Hull FC)

He’s a player fans love to hate but regardless of what your opinion is on the 24-year-old, you can’t doubt he has immense talent. Connor’s natural ball handling skills are probably the best in Super League while has the vision and footwork to beat defenders. He would probably need to bulk up slightly to compete in Australia, as outside backs often struggle with the NRL’s physical demands, but he could be the player to buck that trend.

Daryl Clark (Warrington Wolves)

The Wolves hooker has seen somewhat of a resurgence in his game over the past couple of seasons. After bursting onto the scene at Castleford, his form dipped when he moved to Cheshire in 2015 but he has since established himself as one of the competition’s most dangerous ball runners. He is lighting quick out of dummy half and has superb ball distribution, so would fit in well with the fast-paced style down under.

Tom Makinson (St Helens)

Astonishing tries are a weekly occurrence in the NRL and that’s why Makinson would be such a huge hit down under. He’s built up a reputation as an acrobatic finisher, regularly grounding the ball with literally inches of space available, and is now finally starting to get the international recognition he deserves, earning his first England call-up last year.

Jack Hughes (Warrington Wolves)

This is a bit of a left-field choice, but Hughes has all the attributes of a modern-day second rower. His defence, handling, footwork and line running are all excellent, while his leadership qualities were put to good use as England Knights captain during last Autumn’s tests with PNG. He reminds me of Elliott Whitehead in the way he plays the game and could have a similar impact as the former Bradford man should he choose to try his hand down under.

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