Challenges facing NRL players coming to Super League spelled out with Hull KR and Hull FC making signings

Many Super League clubs will have new recruits for 2025 who have come from NRL clubs - with Hull Kingston Rovers' stunning acquisition from that competition being Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, formerly of Sydney Roosters.

There is a range of other ex-NRL players, of British origin and from overseas, going to a range of other Super League clubs - such as Tom Burgess to Huddersfield, Maika Sivo and Keenan Palasia to Leeds Rhinos, Kyle Feldt and Tristan Sailor to St Helens, Daejarn Asi to Castleford Tigers, and Isaac Liu and David Armstrong to Leigh, among others. Across the river, in Hull, Jordan Rapana and Aidan Sezer join the Black and Whites. Meanwhile, Luke Keary, Nick Cotric, Tevita Pangai Junior and Elliott Whitehead are all ex-NRL players who are heading for French club Catalans Dragons.

Rovers' Waerea-Hargreaves was introduced to the media this week and, asked to compare main differences between going from Australia to these shores, he replied: "Firstly the conditions and not being used to playing in February, March, in the north of England. I've done it personally myself in World Club Challenges and stuff. But it's a great challenge. In the game, there's the one official, compared to us having two referees on the field. I feel that everything is sort of 'on the go' here in the Super League, so I'm looking forward to starting pre-season in a couple of weeks and getting all my techniques and training methods, and getting used to the style of training and playing, as early as possible. It'll be a great challenge as well."

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The structured, skilful play, plus speed and athleticism, seen generally in the NRL, and different officiating, makes it a stand-out competition - with the sport not being far down the pecking order, in terms of most popular sports, as it is in England.

Asked about what is needed to get Super League up to NRL levels, Waerea-Hargreaves replied: "I kind of feel the Super League is heading in the right direction. Obviously funding. But in Australia, speaking about Sydney, you've got this population, you've got so many teams that have got funding from the NRL and support from those guys, so it creates opportunities for players and clubs to do many things.

"It's kind of hard for me to comment on the Super League because I haven't really had much to do with it but, from what I've heard and what I've seen so far, it's heading in the right direction. It's been great seeing games. This stadium (Craven Park) gets sold out regularly. And there's the possibility of creating more opportunity for more fans to come. You can see that the fans love it, they want it.

"I know it all takes time and funding. Back In Sydney, the Roosters just built this new stadium and it would have been three or four times in a season that they sold the stadium out."

The relative lack of funding is a key missing factor in Super League - and average crowds are way higher overall in the NRL. But, asked about playing in front of the crowds over here, Waerea-Hargreaves said: "10,000 will seem like 30,000. There's the passion, the singing and chanting, and that's something I'm looking forward to. Also my family as well. When they come to a place like here (Craven Park) it's definitely one that you will remember for ever. This place has obviously got a lot of history and the people love coming here. So I want to give them what they want."

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