3 Super League Imports to the NRL you should consider for your Fantasy Team

“Ryan Hall” by Gerard Barrau (CC BY-SA 3.0)

In amongst returning heroes like Ben Barba, the 2019 NRL season is set to include the usual steady stream of transfers in from England’s Super League.

While rugby fans in Australia already know what Barba and others coming back Down Under from European Rugby League can do, you might not be so familiar with the Brits heading to the Southern Hemisphere for a new adventure.

As fantasy Rugby League players already start to think about making their selections for their teams in 2019, here are three fresh faces to the NRL from the Super League and why they may be worth considering.

 

Ryan Hall (Sydney Roosters)

Prolific Leeds Rhinos wing Ryan Hall leaves his hometown club and will play for Sydney Roosters, the 2018 NRL Grand Final winners in 2019.

After more than a decade of service and over 230 Super League tries, 31-year-old Hall heads Down Under to reinforce the reigning champs.

With a big medal haul behind him, including Leeds’ unprecedented League Leaders’ Shield, Challenge Cup and Super League treble of 2015, Hall has a huge reputation and regularly backs it up on the pitch.

His explosive pace and strength on the wing are a potent combination for try scoring. Super League defences have seldom stopped him and now Australian opposition must try on a regular basis.

With signings like Hall, it’s no surprise to see Sydney firmly installed as 13/4 favourites in the NRL betting on a 2019 Grand Final win with bet365. They remain the team to beat in the League and well-fancied to retain their crown.

 

John Bateman and Ryan Sutton (Canberra Raiders)

Australian capital club Canberra Raiders have signed a couple of Wigan Warriors forwards from their 2018 Super League Grand Final winning side for the new campaign.

John Bateman was a real star in the second row for the Cherry and Whites last season, making the second most carries and most offloads in the entire division, as well as 3,150 metres of territory.

He was also in the top five for tackle busts and put in plenty himself, which gives the Raiders a much-improved option at lock as they bid to break back into the NRL top eight.

Canberra are 5/4 with bet365 to make the finals series in 2019 and will also have English prop Ryan Sutton in their ranks.

He made more Super League tackles than Bateman and laid down even more markers. That’s especially impressive when we know that the Canberra Raiders lost 14 of their 24 regular season matches.

The Raiders conceded the fifth highest amount of points in the NRL, so the additions of Bateman and Sutton should help keep things tight.

While a Grand Final victory in 2019 takes a leap of faith at present odds of 20/1 for Canberra, they can make strides if their new forward signings replicate their Super League exploits in the capital.

Improving into the top eight is the first obvious target for the Raiders, but they’re also 9/2 to make the top four in the regular NRL season.