2025 Transfer Tracker

[DoubleD]

1 hour ago, V02 said:

 Not sure it is. Certainly not at Leeds.

Half of those u19s aren’t even playing State Cup yet so not sure that argument has any merit.

It’s an absolutely stacked pathway for them currently. One of the biggest challenges will be keeping everyone happy when fighting for minutes.

ECW was clearly a hedge signing to protect against injury risk or to give the ability to rotate Lumb as needed. He hasn’t needed that but that doesn’t make it a bad decision.

We shouldn’t be signing antipodeans as back up players in my opinion 

[Tommygilf]

8 hours ago, DoubleD said:

We shouldn’t be signing antipodeans as back up players in my opinion 

Whilst I get what you are saying, I'm not sure it makes sense for clubs to take this approach rigidly.

Ultimately clubs need to recruit at all levels from as broad a base as possible. An antipodean is often the easy option for many, especially with cap space considered. As such I would advocate for greater cap dispensations to be put in place to encourage clubs to fill these spots with British, French, even European RU players. That could be raising the age and wage for qualifying against the cap, dispensations for non-heartlands u23 level recruitment, specific spots for French and Welsh players in line with IRL aims. There is already effectively an RU new talent pool dispensation but its not been used a lot at all (thinking less than 10 maybe less than 5 players). 

Trying to force imagination is difficult!

[lucky 7]

1 hour ago, Tommygilf said:

Whilst I get what you are saying, I'm not sure it makes sense for clubs to take this approach rigidly.

Ultimately clubs need to recruit at all levels from as broad a base as possible. An antipodean is often the easy option for many, especially with cap space considered. As such I would advocate for greater cap dispensations to be put in place to encourage clubs to fill these spots with British, French, even European RU players. That could be raising the age and wage for qualifying against the cap, dispensations for non-heartlands u23 level recruitment, specific spots for French and Welsh players in line with IRL aims. There is already effectively an RU new talent pool dispensation but its not been used a lot at all (thinking less than 10 maybe less than 5 players). 

Trying to force imagination is difficult!

"An antipodean is often the east option for many"  being the cop out for clubs who only pay lip servive to junior development.

How does it benefit British Rugby League by bring in has beens and never was players from down under?

[Tommygilf]

1 hour ago, lucky 7 said:

"An antipodean is often the east option for many"  being the cop out for clubs who only pay lip servive to junior development.

How does it benefit British Rugby League by bring in has beens and never was players from down under?

They are often cheaper, and of percieved higher quality often. SL should be the highest standard possible.

Clubs absolutely should do more with junior development. 

[Damien]

1 hour ago, Tommygilf said:

They are often cheaper, and of percieved higher quality often. SL should be the highest standard possible.

Clubs absolutely should do more with junior development. 

I know some will argue its not the job of a professional club but every professional club should be building up the community game in it's own area. It's in their own interest and if they dont do it then no one else will. I would absolutely have it weighting well in the IMG criteria and have points for things like community club numbers and players, just like we do for catchment.

It's not healthy, or normal, for such a high proportion of the sports athletes to come from so few areas. A town the size of Wigan should not have such a high percentage of the games professional players. Similarly the Wakefield area. Leeds were next on the last figures I saw but given the size could argubly do better. Strip out those 3 and probably Hull and a huge amount of the games elite league are coming from a handful of places. I know the likes of Oldham and Halifax probably punch above their weight too considering the professional clubs have been stuck in the lower leagues for years.

This all undoubtedly hampers us in terms of overall numbers.

 

Edited June 22 by Damien

[Tommygilf]

38 minutes ago, Damien said:

I know some will argue its not the job of a professional club but every professional club should be building up the community game in it's own area. It's in their own interest and if they dont do it then no one else will. I would absolutely have it weighting well in the IMG criteria and have points for things like community club numbers and players, just like we do for catchment.

It's not healthy, or normal, for such a high proportion of the sports athletes to come from so few areas. A town the size of Wigan should not have such a high percentage of the games professional players. Similarly the Wakefield area. Leeds were next on the last figures I saw but given the size could argubly do better. Strip out those 3 and probably Hull and a huge amount of the games elite league are coming from a handful of places. I know the likes of Oldham and Halifax probably punch above their weight too considering the professional clubs have been stuck in the lower leagues for years.

This all undoubtedly hampers us in terms of overall numbers.

 

Its a problem endemic in the game sadly. We fish in the same waters time and time again despite proof that looking a bit broader or more imaginatively regularly produces good results too.

The Midlands and Welsh pathways problem are clear examples of this issue. 

[V02]

14 hours ago, DoubleD said:

We shouldn’t be signing antipodeans as back up players in my opinion 

If there was an equivalent English player available at that stage of pre-season, for an equivalent price, Leeds would have signed him instead. Clearly there wasn't. There's absolutely nothing wrong with protecting your young English players by ensuring they aren't asked to do too much, too soon. 

5 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

As such I would advocate for greater cap dispensations to be put in place to encourage clubs to fill these spots with British, French, even European RU players. That could be raising the age and wage for qualifying against the cap, dispensations for non-heartlands u23 level recruitment, specific spots for French and Welsh players in line with IRL aims. There is already effectively an RU new talent pool dispensation but its not been used a lot at all (thinking less than 10 maybe less than 5 players). 

Trying to force imagination is difficult!

It's easier for a French kid with potential to go play in Australia than in Super League. Visa requirements as big an issue here as anything. They have to be paid 30k to qualify, so unless they're going to be ready to play 10 games or so first year, you just can't risk it. Unfortunately, only those already playing for Catalans are ready to do that, and you aren't getting them for 30k.

[Tommygilf]

2 minutes ago, V02 said:

If there was an equivalent English player available at that stage of pre-season, for an equivalent price, Leeds would have signed him instead. Clearly there wasn't. There's absolutely nothing wrong with protecting your young English players by ensuring they aren't asked to do too much, too soon. 

It's easier for a French kid with potential to go play in Australia than in Super League. Visa requirements as big an issue here as anything. They have to be paid 30k to qualify, so unless they're going to be ready to play 10 games or so first year, you just can't risk it. Unfortunately, only those already playing for Catalans are ready to do that, and you aren't getting them for 30k.

Oh I'd advocate for more French and Welsh lads going to Australia too, but the English clubs should be easier.

Frankly nobody should be committing their body to professional RL for any length of time for anything less than £30k p.a. imo!

[The Future is League]

43 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Its a problem endemic in the game sadly. We fish in the same waters time and time again despite proof that looking a bit broader or more imaginatively regularly produces good results too.

The Midlands and Welsh pathways problem are clear examples of this issue. 

To think that are some clowns at the RFL and some clubs who want the game in this country only played along the M62 corridor.

[The Future is League]

14 hours ago, DoubleD said:

We shouldn’t be signing antipodeans as back up players in my opinion 

We wouldn't have too if all professional and semi professional clubs had proper junior development programs in operation instead of keep look for easy options has beens and never was players from down under, and I'm refering to club who pay in the top 3 tiers in ths country and have been playing Rugby League for over 100 years.

[V02]

2 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

Oh I'd advocate for more French and Welsh lads going to Australia too, but the English clubs should be easier.

Frankly nobody should be committing their body to professional RL for any length of time for anything less than £30k p.a. imo!

Yeah but I’m talking about bringing prospects over I.e. <21 year olds - they aren’t worth 30k first year often! But those ones, missed by Catalans, are the ones who can add to the talent pool.

[Damien]

 

 

[The Future is League]

Cas Tigers sign Aussie forward

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c74zej8pjvyo

[dkw]

20 minutes ago, Damien said:

 

 

So with newcastles new owners, for Leeds is this redbull gives you wing(er)s...

[wakeyranger]

Jazz Tevaga to wakey is the rumour at the moment.

[The Future is League]

4 hours ago, wakeyranger said:

Jazz Tevaga to wakey is the rumour at the moment.

Where has he been playing his Rugby League this season?

[wakeyranger]

32 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

Where has he been playing his Rugby League this season?

Manly Sea Eagles

[Spidey]

Ben Condon to Widnes

[LeytherRob]

On 27/06/2025 at 20:07, Spidey said:

Ben Condon to Widnes

I think there is a reasonable chance he’s at Leigh next year. When his transfer was cancelled after his accident it was stressed the door wasn’t closed, and Leigh will be looking for a Jack Hughes replacement with the new quota rules coming in. Also Allan Coleman and Beaumont are pretty close which is why Leigh players have generally been turning up on loan at Widnes more than anywhere else.

[Old Frightful]

Leeds prop Sam Lisone to Hull FC.

[Chrispmartha]

29 minutes ago, Old Frightful said:

Leeds prop Sam Lisone to Hull FC.

For 2026

[m brooksy]

19 hours ago, LeytherRob said:

I think there is a reasonable chance he’s at Leigh next year. When his transfer was cancelled after his accident it was stressed the door wasn’t closed, and Leigh will be looking for a Jack Hughes replacement with the new quota rules coming in. Also Allan Coleman and Beaumont are pretty close which is why Leigh players have generally been turning up on loan at Widnes more than anywhere else.

He was absolutely unreal for Widnes on Sunday. Definitely a Super League player and good one at that.

[phiggins]

19 hours ago, LeytherRob said:

I think there is a reasonable chance he’s at Leigh next year. When his transfer was cancelled after his accident it was stressed the door wasn’t closed, and Leigh will be looking for a Jack Hughes replacement with the new quota rules coming in. Also Allan Coleman and Beaumont are pretty close which is why Leigh players have generally been turning up on loan at Widnes more than anywhere else.

Cas could also be in for him, given Chester signed him in the first place. Whether he signs for Leigh depends on whether they were on good terms when the contract was pulled. 

[daz39]

Connor Carr and Fenton Rogers to Bradford and Aidan McGowan to Batley, on loan from Huddersfield.

Olly Russell to Salford on loan from Wakefield.

[The Future is League]

On 22/06/2025 at 16:57, lucky 7 said:

"An antipodean is often the east option for many"  being the cop out for clubs who only pay lip servive to junior development.

How does it benefit British Rugby League by bring in has beens and never was players from down under?

Cop out is the right word to describe clubs who only pay lip service to junior development.