Five of the biggest overseas stars to land in Super League
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CATALANS Dragons have pulled off a major coup with the signing of former New South Wales star Mitchell Pearce.
The 32-year-old half-back made 19 State of Origin appearances for the Blues and became a member of the NRL’S ‘300 club’ earlier this year in his 15th season in the competition with Newcastle Knights.
Pearce joins the long list of NRL legends to make the move to Super League, which includes the man he has replaced in Perpignan, James Maloney.
Here, Rugby League Live picks out the five biggest names to join Super League.
ANDREW JOHNS
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, the supremely gifted halfback joined Warrington Wolves on a short-term deal towards the end of the 2005 season.
Johns made his debut against defending champions Leeds Rhinos in front of an expectant crowd at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and he did not disappoint, inspiring Warrington to a memorable win.
A play-off defeat by Hull FC meant the Australian legend was restricted to only three appearances but he certainly made a lasting impression.
WILLIE MASON
Mason is best known on these shores for his infamous punch on Stuart Fielden but he was also a very handy rugby league player.
The colourful and controversial former Australia and New South Wales forward rocked up at Hull KR in 2011 with a huge reputation and, perhaps unsurprisingly, left under a dark cloud. Mason made only six appearances for Rovers before being deregistered amid a quota issue and eventually leaving just six months into his three-year contract after lining up a move to Toulon, though he returned to Super League with Catalans in 2016.
ISRAEL FOLAU
A natural athlete, Folau took the NRL by storm as a teenager before going on to star for Australia in both codes. He even tried his hand at Australian rules football.
But, like Mason, he has often courted controversy, with the former Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos star sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 for making homophobic comments.
Folau was handed a lifeline by Catalans at the start of 2020 but made just 15 appearances before forcing a release from his contract earlier this year.
SONNY BILL WILLIAMS
Another former dualcode international, Williams is arguably the biggest name to have ever played in Super League. Williams, who has also boxed professionally, joined Toronto Wolfpack ahead of the 2020 season but looked a shadow of his former self after five and a half years away from rugby league.
The Kiwi forward managed only five appearances before the coronavirus pandemic brought Super League to a halt, leading him back to former club Sydney Roosters where he finished his decorated rugby career.
GREG INGLIS
Inglis is another NRL great who arrived in Super League in the twilight of his career. The former Australia and Queensland try machine came out of retirement to join Warrington for the 2021 season and scored on his debut against Hull KR at the start of May.
But a hamstring injury restricted Inglis to three outings and he was released by the Wolves in July.