THE domestic season may only be a few months old, but several winter signings are already proving their worth.

A number of players who made off-season moves are showing their value to both their new clubs and the game as a whole.

Here are six such recruits who have impressed in the opening weeks.

Joe Mellor

MUCH of Bradford’s early-season form has been down to the influence of seasoned professional Joe Mellor, who followed coach Kurt Haggerty in joining the Bulls from relegated Salford. Having spent much of his career in the halves or at hooker, Mellor has been switched to loose forward and is proving to be a revelation as a ball-carrying No 13. Numerous Man of the Match awards underline how influential he has been for the newly promoted former Super League champions.

Toafofoa Sipley

AT 6ft 3in tall and weighing just under 19 stone, New Zealand-born prop Toafofoa Sipley was always likely to make an impression when he swapped Manly Sea Eagles for Warrington Wolves. Having proved his worth in the NRL, the challenge was always going to be replicating that on the opposite side of the world — which is not always easy. But he has certainly managed it, with his try-scoring ability and big hits adding a new edge to the Wolves pack as they search for their first Grand Final victory.

Brad Dwyer

JUST when they needed it most, former Warrington, Leeds, Hull FC and Leigh star Brad Dwyer added some real experience to the phoenix Salford club. With virtually an entire squad to build from scratch, getting Dwyer to agree a permanent contract with the new entity was a real coup, and his vast experience has proved crucial for Salford so far this year. But it might not last, as his performances have already caught the eye of some Super League outfits keen to bring him back to the top flight.

Jackson Hastings

FORMER Man of Steel Jackson Hastings has returned to the UK and picked up where he left off, showing himself to be one of the steadiest half-backs around. In a St Helens team already hit by injuries to key players, Hastings’ cool head has been a calming influence on many occasions, while his strong kicking game has often been flawless. Adding plenty to Saints in both attack and defence, Hastings’ arrival is already promising to be a smart move.

César Rougé

HAVING missed out on signing him when he was a teenager, Toulouse coach Sylvain Houles finally got his man when César Rougé left Perpignan and headed north to the newly promoted side. And what an addition he has been, impressing in the halves alongside Thomas Lacans while Jake Shorrocks waited patiently for his opportunity in Super League. If Rougé maintains his impressive start to the campaign, Houles could soon face a real selection dilemma in a key area of the team.

Jordan Abdull

AFTER spending a year out of the game, many hoped that Jordan Abdull would return and regain the form that saw him earn England honours in 2021 while at Hull KR. But when he did come back to action looking less than match fit, sceptics doubted that would be the case. As it turns out, while the 30-year-old may have lost some sharpness, his class remains and he has led Widnes around the field in a calm and assured manner in the early stages of the campaign.

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 519 (April 2026)