Throughout the many years of rugby league, we have seen plenty of players from the United Kingdom take their qualities across the world to the Southern hemisphere.
For some, it does not always work out but for others it proves to be a masterstroke in terms of their development as a player.
Most recently, we saw Bateman take the league by storm in his debut NRL season so in response to this, I take a look at the 10 Super League players in today’s game who could make the jump down under.
Luke Thompson (St. Helens)
Is there a better prop forward in Super League at the moment?
The 24-year-old has been a mainstay in the St. Helens front row over the last two seasons and is a player who possesses all he aggressiveness, tenacity and intensity that could see him thrive down under.
Since making his debut in 2013, the barnstorming prop has only gotten better and this year put forth his best season to date this year.
He will prove to be a key figurehead in a Saints side that claimed Super League glory and reached the Challenge Cup final.
Jake Connor (Hull FC)
The Hull FC star’s slick ball handling and carrying skills have seen him thrive at the centre position for the Airlie Birds.
Over the course of history, outside backs who have made the journey over have struggled to cope with the physicality that comes with playing in the NRL.
However, Connor’s undeniable talent could see become someone who can break the mould if given the opportunity.
Tommy Makinson (St. Helens)
There probably has not been a better finisher in Super League over the last few seasons and the spectacular just seems to be a common occurrence for the 2018 Golden Boot winner.
His ability to score through the tightest of windows is second to none.
The 28-year-old finally got a taste of the international stage last year after his debut for England.
He showed the NRL exactly what he can do with a pair of superb performances against New Zealand.
The 2019 season also proved to be another great year as he finished as Super League’s leading try scorer.
Tom Johnstone (Wakefield)
It is fair to say that lady luck has not exactly been on the side of the Wakefield flyer who has endured two season ending injuries in the last three seasons.
However, Johnstone’s ceiling still remains high and at the age of 24, he still has plenty of quality years ahead of him if he can recover from this latest injury setback.
A more than natural finisher, Johnstone has gone on to score 67 times in 78 appearances for the West Yorkshire club.
Alex Walmsley (St. Helens)
The 28 year-old’s front row tandem with Thompson has been something to behold these last couple of seasons.
After a miraculous recovery from a broken neck last year, Walmsley has gone on to become a fearsome prop forward and undoubtedly in the top five at his position in the league.
The Saints man has all the traits needed to make his presence felt in a tough and physical league and similar to that of the Burgess’, his size, strength and huge motor all can prove integral in getting his side on the front foot.
Daryl Clark (Warrington)
At the age of 21, Clark looked destined to be the elite talent he is now after winning the 2014 Man of Steel award with the Castleford Tigers.
Since joining Warrington in 2015, he has just continued to shine.
The 26-year-old oozes quality and has showcased a fine amount of durability with nearly 250 appearances under his belt.
With his electric running out of the hooker spot and pinpoint passing, it could see him make a mark wherever he goes.
Oliver Gildart (Wigan)
Even at the age of 23, Gildart already has plenty of experience under his belt, featuring over 100 times for the Warriors.
In that time, he has racked up over 50 tries to his name since making his debut in 2015.
The star centre’s inclusion in last autumn’s England squad and now a revived GB side just goes to show how quickly he has made an impact in his professional career.
A free flowing and attacking player who can rack up the metres in the southern hemisphere and has already shown a winning mentality at such a young tender age with two Super League crowns.
Liam Watts (Castleford)
We have already touched on how physical the NRL can be and a man who continues to show a fine amount of physicality and toughness in Super League has been Watts.
The Tigers prop was undoubtedly one of the Tigers best players this season after being shortlisted for the season’s Man of Steel award.
Despite not having an international cap under his belt, Watts has been a measure of consistency over the last two yeara.
He has rejuvenated himself since moving to Castleford at the start of the year and his tough and gritty style of play give him every chance down under.
Jonny Lomax (St. Helens)
The 29-year-old has all the versatility and creative flair to make an instant impact in Australia’s top tier with an ability to play anywhere in the backs from halfback to fullback.
Since making his debut back in 2009, Lomax has had a hard time with injuries but one thing that never seemed to escape him was the immense talent he possessed.
After suffering a serious knee injury in 2014, he missed a substantial amount of time sitting out most of the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
However, after a full recovery, Lomax made his comeback at the start of the 2016 Super League season and has not seemed to miss a step as over the last three years.
He has cemented himself well and truly as a catalyst for St. Helens and a man who can do it all on the offensive front.
Toby King (Warrington)
Now, to some, this may seem like a real longshot but at the age of 23, King has the potential to be a future impact player for Warrington and possibly one day in the NRL.
The centre made his debut in 2014 and featured sporadically up until the 2019 season where he was a fully fledged starter for the Wire.
In a more central role, King is already showcasing himself to be a great attacking weapon with a great eye for the try line.
He has scored 28 tries and featured on 82 occasions for the primrose and blue.
Most recently, King was selected as part of the England Knights team that faced Jamaica, putting an excellent effort that included a try and a brace of try assists.