The 2024 Super League season may have just started, but there are already a whole host of new recruits having an impact on their new employers.
Coming into the season, the headlines were dominated by talk of the new-look Wigan Warriors pack, and their new recruits have all impressed so far. Leeds Rhinos also recruited heavily as they look to regain their spot in the top six, notably bringing in a new spine.
Other clubs like Castleford Tigers and Salford Red Devils have also recruited well; but which signings have made the best start in their new colours? With that in mind, here are our top five new signings so far this season.
The five recruits making the biggest impact in Super League so far
Luke Thompson
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The former St Helens man has taken well to life at the DW Stadium. Thompson has quickly become a prominent figure in the Warriors’ attack in Super League and is often the man they turn to to truck it up the pitch. Whilst he is a great ball carrier in his own right, he’s combining well with the likes of Patrick Mago and Tyler Dupree to create a formidable middle unit. He also gets through plenty of work in defence too, and has been a standout performer so far this season for the Cherry and Whites.
Matt Whitley
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The former Catalans man, like Thompson, has returned to his home town club; and he’s been excellent so far. His Man of the Match performance on debut got his time back at St Helens off to a bang, and he has carried on his good form since. He is a huge threat with ball in hand and has added another new dynamic to this St Helens attack. He might not be a headline-grabbing player, but he has certainly shown himself to be a brilliant piece of business from the Saints this Super League season.
Nene Macdonald
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Macdonald caused a huge stir in Super League last season after his high-profile exit from Leeds Rhinos, but he has hit the ground running at Salford. He started the campaign off with a tricky return to Headingley, but he was arguably one of the best players on the pitch, and this has only helped him get on his feet quickly at Salford. He has been one of their best attacking options so far, and Paul Rowley will be hoping he can carry this one for the rest of the season.
Daryl Clark
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Clark had massive boots to fill this Super League season coming in for St Helens legend James Roby, but he has transformed the St Helens attack this season. He is a completely different player to James Roby, but he is proving just as effective to this Saints team. Whilst a lot of focus will be on the way he’s changed Saints’ attack, his defensive work is also just as good, and it seems he’s really settled into his new surroundings quickly. Sky Sports’ Barrie McDermott had previously told Serious About Rugby League that Clark was the best of the batch of signings this year.
Adam Swift
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There could only be one man who fits the label of ‘best signing in Super League’ so far this season and that has to be Adam Swift. The Huddersfield Giants man has been sensational and currently tops the try-scoring charts whilst ranking in the top three for carries, metres and clean breaks. He has transformed Huddersfield’s attack and helped take them from ‘pretender to contender’, as argued by those on Sky Sports after their narrow defeat to St Helens. The speedster has also picked up a hatful of tries in the Challenge Cup which has taken his season tally to 15 in 11, just one shy of what his former club Hull FC have managed to rack up.
