STARS REALIGNING

PLAYER SWITCHES THAT ROCKED LEAGUE WORLD

LUKE KEARY Rabbitohs to Roosters

In January 2016, the playmaker had a bust-up with South Sydney owner and Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe. Six months later, Keary, who helped the Rabbitohs to their first title in 43 years in 2014, signed with the Sydney Roosters and has won back-to-back premierships.

JAMIE LYON Eels to Sea Eagles

Lyon stunned Eels fans in 2004 at age 22 when he announced his retirement with two years left on his deal. After a stint in England with St Helens, Lyon returned to the NRL but not for Parramatta. Discussions about his Eels return quickly soured and Lyon moved to Manly, where he retired as a club great in 2016.

RON COOTE Rabbitohs to Roosters

Committed a cardinal sin in 1972 when he defected to Eastern Suburbs from South Sydney after winning four premierships. He then won backto-back titles with Jack Gibson’s Roosters in 1974-75. “The fans were livid,’’ Coote said. “One woman sent me a letter explaining how she was a gypsy and she’d put a gypsy curse on me for joining the Roosters. Another family told me they had a pet rabbit called Ronnie Coote. They reckoned when I made the switch, they ate it.”

GORDEN TALLIS Dragons to Broncos

After making his debut with the Red V in 1992, Tallis signed with Brisbane to play in the Super League in 1996. But with the breakaway competition delayed until 1997, he refused to play for the Dragons and sat out the 1996 ARL season. Red V fans were livid and when he returned to Kogarah Oval for the first time, Tallis was booed incessantly and pelted with rubbish.

CRAIG WING Rabbitohs to Roosters (1999), Roosters to Rabbitohs (2007)

“To have him paraded around like a show pony is not only demeaning to Craig but insulting to the Sydney Roosters, all his current teammates, sponsors and fans.” Roosters chairman Nick Politis didn’t mince his words following Wing’s Redfern “homecoming” in 2007. Wing made his debut in 1998 for his junior side, the Rabbitohs. But following South Sydney’s expulsion in 1999, he joined the Roosters. After eight seasons, he announced mid-season in 2007 he was returning to South Sydney.

ANTHONY MUNDINE Dragons to Broncos

Mundine infuriated Dragons fans when he announced his impending switch to Brisbane midway through the 1996 ARL season. Mundine’s only title was the 2007 Super League trophy with the Broncos. He returned to Kogarah in 2008.

LES BOYD Magpies to Sea Eagles

The volatile Boyd’s switch from the fibros to the silvertails was as controversial as it got. He signed with Manly in 1980 after playing 68 games for Western Suburbs between 1976-79. “I wanted to stay at Wests, who offered me about $17,000 a year,” Boyd said nearly 40 years later. “Manly offered me $40,000 plus $1000 a game.”

BOB FULTON Sea Eagles to Roosters

The Manly legend caused a furore in 1976 when he announced he was joining Eastern Suburbs. The Immortal won three grand finals at Manly during his 213 games. He couldn’t repeat the premiership glory at Easts. He returned to Manly as a coach in 1983 following a stint in charge of Easts and angered Roosters fans when he took Kerry Boustead, Ian Schubert and Noel Cleal with him.

BRAD FITTLER Panthers to Roosters

Fittler’s influence was no more evident than when he controversially made the move east from Penrith in 1996. Before his arrival, the Roosters had missed the finals for almost a decade but Fittler’s impact was immediate. The playmaker guided his side to four grand finals and ultimately the 2002 premiership.

MITCHELL MOSES Tigers to Eels

The future of Moses – and then Wests Tigers teammates Aaron Woods, James Tedesco and Luke Brooks – was the hottest talking point of 2017. He ultimately joined cross-town rivals the Eels from 2018. After initially denying him an early release, the Tigers relented and allowed Moses to leave in May 2017.

ANTHONY WATMOUGH Sea Eagles to Eels

The hardman had a bitter fallout with the club at which he won two premierships between 2002-14. He became disgruntled over the club’s treatment of fellow veteran forward Glenn Stewart, signalling the beginning of the end for him and Manly. By the end of the 2014 season, Watmough had signed with the Eels, where he played just 17 games in two seasons before being medically retired in 2016.