NRL player exodus to ESL

[melon]

2007 has been the year of 19 players signing to play in the ESL. The reasons have ranged from retirement cheques, to the need for a change in scenery, to being forced out of their clubs as a result of salary cap restrictions. Regardless of the reason for leaving the NRL, I want to thank each and every one of them for making rugby league the great game it is. Following are miniature player profiles with the club they have signed to play the 2008 season with.

Name: Shaun Berrigan
Ingoing: Hull (ESL)
Outgoing: Brisbane Broncos (NRL)
Position: Hooker, Centre, Halfback
Rep Honors: Australia (12 Tests), QLD (12 Origins)

Name: Dane Carlaw
Ingoing: Catalans (ESL)
Outgoing: Brisbane Broncos (NRL)
Position: Second Row, Prop
Rep Honors: Australia (6 Tests), QLD (12 Origins)

Name: Adam Dykes
Ingoing: Hull (ESL)
Outgoing: Cronulla Sharks (NRL)
Position: Five-Eighth, Half-Back
Rep Honors: City (1 Game)

Name: Josh Hannay
Ingoing: Celtic Crusaders
Outgoing: Cronulla Sharks (NRL)
Position: Centre
Rep Honors: QLD (2 Origins)

Name: Craig Stapleton
Ingoing: Salford (ESL)
Outgoing: Cronulla Sharks (NRL)
Position: Prop
Rep Honors: City (4 Games)

Name: Jake Webster
Ingoing: Hull KR (ESL)
Outgoing: Gold Coast ***ans (NRL)
Position: Centre, Wing
Rep Honors: New Zealand

Name: Michael Monaghan
Ingoing: Warrington (ESL)
Outgoing: Manly Sea Eagles (NRL)
Position: Half-Back, Hooker
Rep Honors: Nil

Name: Chris Hicks
Ingoing: Warrington (ESL)
Outgoing: Manly Sea Eagles (NRL)
Position: Wing
Rep Honors: Nil

Name: Matt King
Ingoing: Warrington (ESL)
Outgoing: Melbourne Storm (NRL)
Position: Wing, Centre
Rep Honors: Australia (9 Tests), NSW (9 Origins), Country (2 Games)

Name: Rod Jensen
Ingoing: Huddersfield (ESL)
Outgoing: Queensland Cowboys (NRL)
Position: Centre, Wing
Rep Honors: Nil

Name: Mathew Head
Ingoing: Hull (ESL)
Outgoing: St George Illawarra Dragons (NRL)
Position: Half-Back
Rep Honors: Nil

Name: Chris Flannery
Ingoing: St Helens (ESL)
Outgoing: Sydney Roosters (NRL)
Position: Lock, Five-Eighth, Second Row
Rep Honors: QLD (10 Origins)

Name: Louis Anderson
Ingoing: Warrington (ESL)
Outgoing: New Zealand Warriors (NRL)
Position: Second Row
Rep Honors: New Zealand (13 Tests)

Name: George Gatis
Ingoing: Huddersfield (ESL)
Outgoing: New Zealand Warrios (NRL)
Position: Hooker
Rep Honors: R Greece (2 Tests)

Name: Tony Martin
Ingoing: Wakefield (ESL)
Outgoing: New Zealand Warriors (NRL)
Position: Centre
Rep Honors: Nil

Name: Paul Whatuira
Ingoing: Huddersfield (ESL)
Outgoing: Wests Tigers (NRL)
Position: Centre
Rep Honors: New Zealand (10 Tests)

Name: Daniel Fitzhenry
Ingoing: Hull KR (ESL)
Outgoing: Wests Tigers (ESL)
Position: Centre, Wing, Full-Back
Rep Honors: Nil

Name: Ben Galea
Ingoing: Hull KR (ESL)
Outgoing: Wests Tigers (NRL)
Position: Lock, Second Row
Rep Honors: City (1 Game)

Name: Clint Newton
Ingoing: Hull KR (ESL)
Outgoing: Melbourne Storm (NRL)
Position: Prop, Second Row
Rep Honors: Nil

 

[mahz]

Very sad to see louis anderson go!damn da warriors...let go some good players!!!

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Glad to see you don't think any are going because they want a payday! It's great for me to see people like Matt King, at the prime of his career, coming over here. God, he is awesome. I wish we were signing him, he would be untouchable at Saints.

He still looks like Trey Parker.

 

[Dikon]

Looking forward to seeing Fattz and Gatis at the Giants.

 

[ballackahn]

going to miss Berrigan...Broncos are one strong team.

 

[Deception_2112]

Thats the result of the salary cap...

Gallop is pathetic...

 

[melon]

Thats the result of the salary cap...

Gallop is pathetic... [/b]

Why is Gallop pathetic? Because he is smart enough to realise that at this point in time the NRL would not be able to function properly if the salary cap even doubled let alone disappeared?

 

[TyphoonsRugby]

Only two from Cowboys thank god.