Retour
A total of 87 signings have been made by Super League clubs heading into the 2027 season, but where exactly are the players arriving from? Amid the debate around the size of the player pool and the increased number of overseas quota spots, we’ve dug into the data.
Transfers ahead of the 2027 Super League season can be split into a number of categories regarding where the signed player arrives from. Of course, plenty of signings are Super League to Super League, some come from the Championship, others from the NRL, and a number from the Australian reserve grade.
We’ve examined the data to look at just how many players are being signed from each competition but, perhaps more interestingly, how many players being signed require a quota spot. That means they are not homegrown to either the UK or France and/or did not play junior rugby in either nation.
Players who featured on loan for a club in 2026 and then signed a permanent deal for 2027 are counted, as are 2027 loanees. Players who have arrived from an NRL system are determined to be either an NRL signing or a reserve grade signing based on where they played more games in the past two seasons.
The Bulls have signed nine players for 2027, although two of those are simply permanent deals for last year’s loanees Leon Ruan and Jack Ormondroyd. Interestingly, their NRL import is actually an Englishman in John Bateman, with the Bulls actually freeing up a quota space – signing two but releasing three.
Signings: Sam Eseh, Cameron Scott, James Bentley, Ligi Sao, Leon Ruan, Lachlan Walmsley (all Super League), John Bateman (NRL), Nathan Connell and Jack Ormondroyd (both Championship)
The Tigers are one of the Super League sides to raid NRL wooden spooners St George Illawarra Dragons, with three of Castleford’s four quota signings coming from St George. Grand Final winner Mason Lino is the other, whilst they’ve also swooped for Leigh pair Robbie Mulhern and Ben McNamara, as well as the Championship’s Alfie Johnson.
Signings: Robbie Mulhern, Ben McNamara, Mason Lino (all Super League), Damien Cook, Mat Feagai, Tyrell Sloan (all NRL), Alfie Johnson (Championship)
John Cartwright’s side have signed the most quota players of any Super League club (six, tied with Hull FC) but five of those come from the NRL. Their other quota recruit, Cole Geyer, signs from Championship Oldham whilst five domestic players have arrived from Super League, with Les Dracs gaining a net two quota players.
Signings: Amir Bourouh, Luca Walsh, Arthur Romano, Joe Burgess, Alex Mellor (all Super League), Jesse Arthars, Tyson Gamble, Luciano Leilua, Hame Sele, Nathan Brown (all NRL), Cole Geyer (Championship)
NRL forward Jaimin Jolliffe headlines the Giants’ signings, and he’s one of three quota players who arrive alongside Jake Arthur (Hull FC) and Logan Aoake (Newcastle Knights’ reserves), with the other recruits being homegrown. They include Goole’s Jeylan Hodgson and Wigan’s Kruise Leeming.
Signings: Kruise Leeming, Jake Arthur, Jordy Crowther, Will Tate (all Super League), Jaimin Jolliffe (NRL), Jeylan Hodgson (Championship), Logan Aoake (Australian reserve grade)
Like Catalans, Hull FC have signed six quota players, however three of them hail from the Australian reserve grade. Two come from the NRL and one comes from Super League. They’ve supplemented those overseas recruits by bringing Bailey Hodgson back to his hometown club and bringing Max Wood back in on loan. Despite seeing four quota players go, the Black and Whites remain over the limit of 10 overseas players.
Signings: Bailey Hodgson, Alrix Da Costa, Isaac Liu, Max Wood (all Super League), Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Kerr (both NRL), Connor Barley (Championship), Joshua Coric, Jordan Swann, Junior Pauga (all Australian reserve grade)
Hull KR are one of three clubs who have only recruited quota players ahead of 2027, however, all four of their signings arrive from the New South Wales and Queensland Cups – competitions that new head coach Nathan Cayless is familiar with given he headed up the Eels’ side in that competition.
Signings: Moala Graham-Taufa, Eddie Hampson, Salesi Ataata, Brock Parker (all Australian reserve grade)
Whilst Leeds have made four quota signings, only two of them hail from overseas. Academy product Morgan Gannon is one of three Australian-based recruits alongside the versatile Dylan Walker and forward Wiremu Greig, but their other quota signings arrive from Catalans – Nick Cotric and Edenn Rogers-Smith.
Signings: Edenn Rogers-Smith, Nick Cotric, Hugo Salabio (all Super League), Dylan Walker, Wiremu Greig (all NRL), Morgan Gannon (Australian reserve grade), Delaine Gittens (Championship)
Two of the Leopards’ three signings are quota signings, with Tevita Pangai Jr arriving from Hull KR and Kai O’Donnell returning from the NRL. They’ve also brought in Wigan youngster Jack Purtill. Leigh’s only quota departure is Isaac Liu.
Signings: Jack Purtill, Tevita Pangai Jr (both Super League), Kai O’Donnell (NRL)
Like Hull KR, Saints have signed four players, and all are quota players. Solomona Faataape signs from Catalans, two arrive from the NRL, and Sean O’Sullivan, despite being in an NRL system, played more of his games these past two years in the reserve grade. They’ve also increased their number of quota players with just two exits compared to four additions.
Signings: Solomona Faataape (Super League), Christian Tuipulotu, Tom Starling (both NRL), Sean O’Sullivan (Australian reserve grade)
The Olympians have only signed one player for 2027, and it’s Englishman Sam Hall, meaning they haven’t recruited any quota players. They also saw Pierre-Jean Lima and Reubenn Rennie depart making them one of the few clubs to have actually lost quota players, rather than added them.
Signings: Sam Hall (Super League)
Champions Wakefield are have kept their quota number the same this year, with three players departing and three joining. Tyson Smoothy, Mason Lino and Lachlan Walmsley all depart, but they’ve signed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Mason Teague, and Emre Guler. The latter did arrive early, though we’ve counted him on this list.
Signings: Cameron Smith, Ned McCormack, Davy Litten (all Super League), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Emre Guler (both NRL), Mason Teague (Australian reserve grade)
Like KR and Saints, Wire have signed four players, all of whom take up quota spots, and surprisingly, they’ve seen no quota players depart. Two of their recruits hail from Super League, with the other two signing from the Australian reserve grade.
Signings: Brodie Croft, Jacob Gagai (both Super League), Mitchell Prest, Toby Crosby (both Australian reserve grade)
There’s very little to talk about with Wigan Warriors, with the club yet to make a signing for 2027. They’ve also only seen four players depart, one of whom was out on loan last year, another an academy product, Liam Farrell to retirement, and Sam Eseh to Bradford – meaning they haven’t lost any quota players either.
Signings: N/A
York are a curious case as they’ve confirmed several 2026 loans as 2027 permanent signings, including three from Newcastle Thunder, with seven of the Knights’ 13 signings arriving from the Championship club. Two of those are quota players Cody Hunter and David Nofoaluma, whilst their other overseas recruits come from the NRL. Interestingly, York lost five quota players, though Ryan Jackson, John Sagaga and Jordan Lipp spent almost all of 2026 with Newcastle.
Signings: Matty English, Max Jowitt, Zak Hardaker, Zach Fishwick, Brad Fash (all Super League), Cam McInnes, Blake Lawrie (both NRL), Tom Inman, Joe Law, Myles Harrison, Harvey Reynolds, Andy Djeukessi, David Nofoaluma, Cody Hunter (all Championship)
Of the 87 signings made by Super League clubs for 2027, just under half of those have seen players arrive from a rival Super League club, with 39 transfers taking place.
There are also 14 Championship signings, meaning that domestic recruitment accounts for just over 60% of the total signings made, however, not all of those 53 signings are non-quota players. In fact, a remarkable 46 of the total players signed will take up quota spots.
A large chunk of those quota signings hail from the NRL, where 21 of the 87 signings – just over a quarter – will be recruited from, but there are also 13 arriving from the Australian reserve grade.
What makes that number of reserve-grade signings so significant is that whilst 46 players signed will take up a quota spot, 34 quota players have left the 14 clubs, meaning 12 additional quota players will feature in Super League for 2027.
The fact that the number almost matches the number of reserve-grade recruits is not a coincidence but a result of the reduced player pool because of an expanded 14-team competition.
Moreover, with the success of Wakefield Trinity, who recruited a number of players from the Australian second-tier, other clubs have followed suit, with Hull KR notably making just four signings – all of whom are from the New South Wales or Queensland Cup.
Where signings came from: 39 from Super League, 21 from the NRL, 14 from the Championship, and 13 from the Australian reserve grade.
Quota changes: 46 overseas quota players signed, 34 overseas quota players exited – net gain of 12 overseas quota players
Related Topics
Retour
Top
| Politique de confidentialité Conditions d'utilisation Contact |
Actualiser
|
All the best breaking news stories from Apex Scores Lite. Optimised for feature phones and low end Android devices, Apex Scores Lite helps users with legacy devices and poor network connectivity access the latest football news and live scores. Particularly relevant for breaking football news in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.