The NRL remains to be the pinnacle for rugby league players around the world, but
sometimes Australians fancy a change and move to England to compete in the physical Super
League format.
While some have failed on their challenge to achieve success in the UK, some have had
overwhelming success. But which Australian players have had the best impact on the Super
League?
Pat Richards
The Australian-born Irish international enjoyed five excellent years with the Parramatta Eels
and Wests Tigers before embarking on a move across the channel to England. He enjoyed
great success during his time in the Super League with the Wigan Warriors. He made 244
appearances over his seven-year spell in the north of England. Richards recorded 167 tries
and totalled a massive 2468 points. This included his haul of 434 points in the 2010 season;
an achievement that saw him named Man of Steel for that season.
Richards won the Challenge Cup and Grand Final twice during his side with the Warriors and
was also a vital part of their double-winning team in 2013 before opting to re-join the Wests.
In 2016 he rejoined the Super League, but this time with the Catalan Dragons. He made 21
appearances before he decided to retire from the game in July of 2017.
Jamie Lyon
Despite only playing in two Super League seasons; Lyon left a lasting effect on the league.
He began his career at Parramatta Eels, where he spent four years. His move to St Helens was
widely received as a sign of how far the league had come in attracting the very best players in
the world. His trademark offloads and bursting runs ensured that he went down as a fan
favourite very quickly. His stature was similar to something that you would expect to be
lining up for the favourites in the NFL Super Bowl odds.
He recorded 22 tries in his debut season for St Helens and was awarded the Man of Steel as
well as being named in the Super League Dream Team. The Australian became the team’s
main goal-kicker in his second season in the Super League. He broke a league record for the
most points scored in a single match as he scored 32 in St Helens’ 72-4 win over the
Castleford Dragons. Once again, he was named in the Super League Dream Team, as St
Helen’s won the Grand Final and Challenge Cup. In total he scored 586 points over the two
years he played in the Super League, before moving back to Australia in 2007.
Brett Hodgson
The Australian was always very clear about his intentions to play in the Super League. He
enjoyed great success during his time with the Western Suburbs, Parramatta Eels and Wests
Tigers, before moving to England in 2009. During his career in the NRL, he totalled 1,289
points for his respective teams. His first season in the Super League was with the
Huddersfield Giants; where he scored 428 points in 51 appearances. He was immediately
named the club captain upon the completion of his move to the Giants and went on to score
14 tries in his debut season. His organisation skills and qualities in attack and defence was
invaluable to the team and saw the Australian named Man of Steel and selected in the Super
League Dream Team.
In 2011 the full-back moved to Warrington Wolves, where he went on to win the League
Leaders’ Shield in his debut season. The following season saw Hodgson play a vital role for
the team as the Wolves won the Warrington’s Challenge Cup Final. He was named man of the
match in the 35-18 win over the Leeds Rhinos. He retired from the game in 2014 and
continues to be involved in the Super League, as assistant coach and academy head coach
with the Widnes Vikings.
