There’s only two months to go until the season kicks off and every NRL team has made signings to improve on their 2022 campaign.
The Tigers have seven new faces, while the Sharks have only acquired a single player to join their top 30 for the year ahead.
Some signings fill a role, while others become integral to the success of a team and emerge as linchpins for their respective teams.
Round 1
RAIDERS: Danny Levi Danny Levi makes a return to the NRL after a stint abroad in the Super League, having last played for the Broncos in 2021. The Raiders announced Levi’s two-year deal on Sunday and the Samoan international brings 112 games of NRL experience to the club’s dummy-half stocks. Ricky Stuart lost Josh Hodgson in the off-season after his season-ending knee injury in Round 1 and played Tom Starling, Zac Woolford and Adam Elliott at hooker. Levi has a chance to become the club’s No.1 dummy-half and could become a pivotal figure in this Raiders outfit. BULLDOGS: Reed Mahoney While Jeremy Marshall-King had a career-best year in 2022, Reed Mahoney’s ability cannot be understated. The 24-year-old hooker is one of the competition’s premier hookers and was a key figure in the Eels’ success over the last three seasons. The elite teams in the NRL have a top tier hooker and if the Canterbury-Bankstown club want to enter the finals race, Mahoney will have a huge influence. His ability to give time and space to his halves pairing at Parramatta was a highlight of his game, while his tireless defensive efforts cannot be ignored. Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now > SHARKS: Oregon Kaufusi Oregon Kaufusi is the Sharks single signing to their top 30 and is an impressive addition to an already strong forward pack. The 23-year-old prop played off the bench for most of Parramatta’s campaign in 2022 which saw them lose to the Panthers in the grand final. Veteran forwards Dale Finucane and Wade Graham will be tasked with nurturing Kaufusi’s talent and with a huge 188cm and 114kg frame – he could be a huge hit in the Shire. DOLPHINS: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow While the Dolphins have acquired an experienced forward pack full of former premiership winners, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow could be the most important figure in Wayne Bennett’s team. The Maroons representative fell down the pecking order at the Cowboys behind Scott Drinkwater and was used as a utility for the remainder of the season after returning from a PCL injury. Every NRL fan knows just how dangerous ‘the Hammer’ can be and if the halves pairing of Anthony Milford and Sean O’Sullivan can give the dazzling fullback space to move he could cause chaos. The 21-year-old will also be desperate to perform and break back into the Queensland side after he failed to appear in 2022. TITANS: Sam Verrills Kieran Foran is the obvious choice here for the Titans’ most important signing, but the hooker role has consistently been a problem for Justin Holbrook over the last two seasons. Erin Clark was tipped to be the club’s No.9 ahead of the 2022 season but failed to cement his spot before he shifted to lock. Sam Verrills is a smart addition for the Gold Coast side and the 23-year-old already has an NRL premiership under his belt. The former Rooster is an intelligent dummy-half who can play 80 minutes and hopefully give the spine of Foran, AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell space to produce points. SEA EAGLES: Kelma Tuilagi The Sea Eagles have made several savvy signings including snaring Ben Condon and Cooper Johns, but Tuilagi will clearly be the most involved of the lot. The 23-year-old former Tiger signed a three-year deal with Manly after making 27 appearances for the merger club across two seasons. On his day, Tuilagi is a wrecking ball in attack and equally impressive in defence – but consistency has been an issue for the backrower. Tuilagi will partner Haumole Olakau’atu on the edge, making up an explosive backrow duo ready to terrorise opposition defences. Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!! STORM: Tariq Sims The Storm lost experienced forwards Felise Kaufusi, Jesse Bromwich and Kenny Bromwich and were looking for a veteran forward to take their place. Tariq Sims joins the Storm with 221 NRL games across stints with the Cowboys and Knights before breaking into the Origin arena while at the Dragons. The 32-year-old was an integral figure in the Blues’ 2021 series win only two seasons ago and will likely take an edge or bench spot under Craig Bellamy. While his best years may be past him, Sims, alongside the experienced Nelson Asofa-Solomona, has a big job to mentor the Storm’s young pack including new signing Eliesa Katoa, Alec MacDonald and Trent Loiero. KNIGHTS: Adam Elliott Adam Elliott found a home at lock under Ricky Stuart at the Raiders last season before being snapped up by Adam O’Brien’s Knights. The 28-year-old joined his partner, superstar prop Millie Boyle, in making the move to the Hunter and the pair are set to become integral figures in the club’s NRL and NRLW teams. Elliott is a tough forward who can make metres but also has impressive ball-handling skills and played hooker for the Raiders in a handful of games last season. Elliott brings a wealth of experience and some much-needed grit to what is an impressive Knights forward pack on paper,, on that was ultimately unable to deliver finals football last season. COWBOYS: James Tamou James Tamou is one of three Cowboys signings, but is set to become a crucial mentor for a young and exciting forward pack. Jeremiah Nanai, Heilum Luki, Reuben Cotter and Griffin Neame are all under the age of 25 and with 305 games of NRL experience – that group could learn some valuable lessons. The 34-year-old also provides a solid front row option off the bench and will likely be an invaluable leader in the Cowboys squad. EELS: Josh Hodgson One impressive hooker out, another one in. Josh Hodgson joins the Eels after a year sidelined and will be as hungry as ever to deliver for his new team. The 31-year-old English international has been one of the NRL’s most consistent hookers since making the move to Australia ahead of the 2015 season. There will obviously be questions over his fitness after another ACL injury but if he is able to get back to something resembling his best he will make an impact, Parramatta have lost a number of key players, including Marata Niukore, Reed Mahoney and Isaiah Papali’I, and Hodgson’s experience could be key to the club’s success this season with a young forward pack. PANTHERS: Luke Garner The Panthers are another team who have lost some key faces, including Apisai Koroisau and Viliame Kikau, but have made savvy signings to fill the gaps. Luke Garner and Zac Hosking are set to fight for Kikau’s vacant left edge spot, but given Cleary handed the former Tigers his debut in 2018 – he is likely to get the nod. The Panthers have a history of smart recruiting and Garner could become another figure in the Penrith outfit similar to Scott Sorensen or Kurt Capewell who has since departed. The 27-year-old has played 75 NRL games and could be the perfect replacement to fill the void left by Kikau in both attack and defence. DRAGONS: Jacob Liddle Liddle is one of the Dragons’ four signings for the 2023 season but is undoubtedly the most important, filling the hooker role after Andrew McCullough retired. The 26-year-old has played 74 NRL games across eight seasons with the Tigers, having only played 20 games in a calendar year once. Liddle has shown glimpses of talent and impressive pace out of the ruck, but consistency has been his biggest issue in recent years as well as constant injury problems including a PCL blow suffered last season. If Dragons coach Anthony Griffin can unlock his new hooker, he could be a hit with the Red V faithful. ROOSTERS: Brandon Smith The Roosters lost one hooker and gained another in Brandon Smith, who is set to become a first-choice dummy half under Trent Robinson. The 26-year-old has played at No.9 and lock in recent seasons with the Storm, sharing the hooker role with representative gun Harry Grant. The Tricolours will be desperate for their marquee recruit to deliver and avoid injury in his debut season for the club. Smith can be one of the most damaging hookers on his day and his running ability out of the ruck is among the competition’s elite. WARRIORS: Te Maire Martin Since making a huge comeback with the Broncos last season, Te Maire Martin has been nothing but impressive a fully deserves a starting spot for the Warriors. The 27-year-old was a consistent performer for Kevin Walters and New Zealand’s new coach Andrew Webster will be relying on the former Panther to be an important figure at fullback or in the halves. Martin brings a level head to the Warriors line-up and his partnership in the spine with veteran playmaker Shaun Johnson could propel this underperforming side back into the top eight. TIGERS: Apisai Koroisau Apisai Koroisau emerged as one of the NRL’s best hookers as the Panthers reached three grand finals and secured back-to-back premierships. The 30-year-old is an intelligent and dynamic hooker who brings a wealth of experience to a position the Tigers have lacked in since Robbie Farah’s retirement in 2019. Alongside a host of new recruits, including John Bateman, David Klemmer and Isaiah Papali’i, Koroisau is set to have the biggest influence on the side and become a linchpin in the merger club’s spine.
