Big Ticks: The signing set to boost each NRL club in 2023

Preseason NRL action is a matter of weeks away and preparations are in full swing for the 2023 season.

As the case often is, the free agent frenzy has nudged the parity of the premiership ever so slightly as several bottom-feeders look to make incisions up the ladder.

Here is each club’s key signing for 2023:

Brisbane Broncos: Reece Walsh

Reece Walsh is back in Brisbane after two seasons with the Warriors and is set to start the year at fullback in what firms as a make-or-break season for Kevin Walters and the Broncos. Walsh burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old after a high-profile switch from Brisbane to the Warriors and popped in Origin discussions barely two months into his NRL career. The remainder of his stint with the Warriors was slightly up-and-down but there is no denying the immense talent the now-20-year-old possesses. Walsh was fifth among all fullbacks in percentage of team try involvements last season and also led all fullbacks in total kick metres. His effectiveness out the backfield and defensive work offer two areas of improvement for Walsh but Brisbane’s system should be more conducive to his strengths than the Warriors’, particularly with the strike in Brisbane’s backline.

Canberra Raiders: Pasami Saulo

Canberra put together a rather hushed recruitment drive this offseason with former Newcastle bigman Pasami Saulo and Huddersfield rake Danny Levi the only new faces. With Zac Woolford and Tom Starling developing into a successful hooking duo for Ricky Stuart last season, Levi likely starts the year in NSW Cup. Saulo, meanwhile, will vie for the vacancies in the middle rotation following the departures of Adam Elliott and Ryan Sutton alongside the likes of Trey Mooney, Ata Mariota, and Peter Hola. Saulo came off the bench in 11 games last season for the Knights and, at just 24, will hope for an opportunity to cement himself as a regular first grader. At 6-foot-3 and 103 kg, Saulo showed some signs of being a reliable bench middle in limited opportunities with Newcastle last season but may be in need a big preseason to secure a more consistent role in Canberra.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: Viliame Kikau

Perhaps the biggest name to switch clubs heading into the season, Viliame Kikau became the first second-rower since Nathan Hindmarsh to earn three consecutive Team of the Year nods last season. The towering Fijian developed into the premiership’s premier edge forward under Ivan Cleary at Penrith and will slot in on Canterbury’s left edge alongside Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr. With Reed Mahoney now also a Bulldog, the club look poised to push for the finals after a six-year stay in the bottom eight. It remains to be seen just how much of Kikau’s individual success over the past several seasons was a product of Penrith’s system but his fusion of skill, size, and leadership qualities are rare and will prove a strong asset for Canterbury under first-year head coach Cameron Ciraldo. Last season, Kikau led all qualifying edge forwards in try involvements per 80 minutes and was fifth in tackle break percentage. An unstoppable hole runner with premiership pedigree, expect Kikau’s effect on this Bulldogs squad to be apparent from the outset.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: Oregon Kaufusi

Cronulla were another team who were quiet on the recruiting front with Oregon Kaufusi their only new face following the retirements of Andrew Fifita and Aiden Tolman. Kaufusi played in all 28 games for runners-up Parramatta last season and proved himself as a dependable interchange middle. Expect Kaufusi to play meaningful minutes off the bench alongside the likes of Cameron McInnes and Braden Hamlin-Uele. A solid ball-runner and mostly reliable defender capable of putting together increasingly lengthy stints, Kaufusi should act as a more than sound replacement for the departing veterans. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 114 kg, the 23-year-old is an enticing prospect for Cronulla’s coaching staff and will hope to build off a 2022 that included Grand Final and World Cup Final losses.

The Dolphins: Tom Gilbert

There has been no shortage of analysis surrounding the squad that Wayne Bennett has managed to craft for the inaugural season of the Dolphins. Whilst the squad may exude ‘ragtag bunch of misfits’ vibes to some pundits, there are some interesting aspects of that could undoubtedly shine under Bennett’s tutelage. Jeremy Marshall-King, Edrick Lee, and Sean O’Sullivan are all coming off career best years, Euan Aitken was awarded the Simon Mannering Medal at the Warriors, and the core of veterans who make the move up from Melbourne – Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, and Felise Kaufusi – should suit Bennett’s style perfectly. Add to that the crew of youngsters – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Isaiya Katoa, and Valynce Te Whare – and there is reason for optimism at the Dolphins. Tom Gilbert, however, may prove the strongest of their signings after a 2022 which saw the 22-year-old play in 24 games for a top four Cowboys outfit and make his Origin debut in a series-clinching Game III for Queensland. The expectation is that he shifts into the middle of the field after spending all of last season on an edge. His trademark aggression stood out every time he took the field for Cowboys last season as he developed into a strong ball-carrier and a tireless defender. It will be a different scenario for him with the Dolphins but there is reason to believe his best football is ahead of him.

Gold Coast Titans: Kieran Foran

Several astute signings have the Titans in a position to improve on a 2022 season which saw them win just six games across the entire season. Premiership-winners Kieran Foran and Sam Verrills add some much-needed composure to their spine whilst Aaron Schoupp, Chris Randall, and Joe Stimson give head coach Justin Holbrook some options in the 17. Foran is expected to wear the six jersey alongside rising halfback Tanah Boyd. The 32-year-old appeared in 49 of a potential 51 games for Manly over the past two seasons after a half-decade of frustrating injury setbacks. Foran ranked sixth among all five-eighths in percentage of team try involvements last season and proved an ideal secondary playmaker alongside Daly Cherry-Evans. Set to adopt more of a mentor role for the Titans’ young spine, Foran should help steady a side that looked bemused far too often last year.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: Kelma Tuilagi

Manly did not make an awful lot of noise in the free agent market heading into 2023 with edge forwards Kelma Tuilagi and Ben Condon their only full-time signings whilst Cooper Johns and Nathaniel Roache were given train-and-trial contracts. Tuilagi arrives on the northern beaches fresh off a season in which he appeared in 22 first grade games for the wooden spooner Wests Tigers before playing a part in Sāmoa’s run to a World Cup Final. The Wests Tigers had high hopes for Tuilagi but the soon-to-be 24-year-old was unable to kick on in the manner they had anticipated and was demoted from the starting lineup to the bench midseason before regaining his starting spot for the run home. At 6-foot-4 and 108 kg, Tuilagi offers Manly a big body to suit up on their left edge with Haumole Olakau’atu on the right, however, they will hope he is able to channel some more aggression and secure his spot in the starting 13.

Melbourne Storm: Tariq Sims

With the departures of the Bromwich brothers, Felise Kaufusi, and Brandon Smith, Melbourne find themselves in a changing of the guard situation as they transition into a new era. Their two biggest offseason recruits were Dragons veteran Tariq Sims and Warriors second-rower Eliesa Katoa. Both men are expected to earn playing time from the jump given the vacancies in Melbourne’s lineup. Sims’ form has been up-and-down for the Dragons in recent years with the Origin rep battling through niggling injuries and the departures of several of his key teammates. The soon-to-be 33-year-old split his time between the middle and the edge this past year at the Dragons before a four-game suspension – a product of a longstanding discipline issue – for a swinging arm on Cronulla’s Connor Tracey ended his season early. A veteran of six Origin caps, Sims will hope to play a simplified and consistent role with the Storm where he can show off his signature hole-running and inside pressure.

Newcastle Knights: Adam Elliott

Newcastle have turned to the open market in a bid to turn around a disappointing season in which they won just four of their final 22 games and one from their final nine. David Klemmer, Edrick Lee, and Mitch Barnett are among the names that have moved on with Adam Elliott, Jackson Hastings, Jack Hetherington, Lachlan Miller, Greg Marzhew and Tyson Gamble the arrivals. Hastings provides the Knights a much-needed halfback whilst Miller and Marzhew add some attacking potency in the backline with star fullback Kalyn Ponga set to make the switch into the halves. Elliott, however, enjoyed a career-best year at Canberra and adds some steel to a Knights side that was down on energy for long stretches of 2022. Elliott took on a workhorse role at the Raiders and grew into a genuine difference-maker with his high-energy bursts and ability to shove away from defenders. The Raiders were 2-5 in games he came off the bench last season and 11-5 in games he started.

North Queensland Cowboys: James Tamou

After a turnaround like few we have ever seen in 2022, Todd Payten’s Cowboys will continue to rely largely on internal leaps to get over the hump and perhaps improve again in 2023. Jack Gosiewski and Gehamat Shibasaki are the new faces in Townsville along with 2015 premiership-winner James Tamou. None of the three are particularly eye-popping, however, given the departures of Tom Gilbert, Connelly Lemuelu, and Ben Condon coupled with question marks surrounding Luciano Leilua and the fact that Heilum Luki and Mitch Dunn are returning from long-term knee injuries, Gosiewski and Tamou may find themselves playing come Round 1. Tamou’s experience and legend status at the club will be a welcome addition for the Cowboys. He had a difficult year captaining the Wests Tigers in 2022 and this appears to be his final NRL stop but he should still has the ability to get through a sum of work and hold up the middle of the field when the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Reuben Cotter, and Jordan McLean rest.

Parramatta Eels: Josh Hodgson

Fresh off their first Grand Final appearance in 13 years, the Eels have been forced into retooling their roster following the departures of Isaiah Papali’i, Reed Mahoney, Marata Niukore and Oregon Kaufusi. Among the gains are Josh Hodgson, J’maine Hopgood, Jack Murchie, Jirah Momoisea and Matt Doorey. There is a clear gulf in class and experience between the departures and arrivals although Hodgson offers a point of difference for Brad Arthur at nine. There are, however, questions over just how impactful he can be as a 33-year-old recovering from a season-ending ACL injury. A Canberra legend who helped lead them to a Grand Final in 2019, Hodgson is a crafty operator around the ruck and tackles himself to a standstill. Striking a balanced partnership with his playmakers holds the key to Parramatta’s season. An in-form Hodgson may offer a higher attacking ceiling than the departing Mahoney and, with Mitch Rein the only other recognised hooker in the squad, the Eels will be desperate to keep the veteran Englishman on the park.

Penrith Panthers: Luke Garner

After becoming just the second team of the NRL era to go back-to-back, Penrith’s stocks have once again been raided by rival clubs with the Western Sydney powerhouse relying on their junior pipeline alongside savvy purchasing to recraft a premiership contending squad. With Viliame Kikau now at Canterbury, an all-important slot on the left edge has opened up with former Wests Tiger Luke Garner the favourite to nab it. Replacing Kikau’s impact is impossible but Penrith will hope the 27-year-old can make the jersey his own. Quite the athlete, Garner should be leaping at the opportunity to play outside Jarome Luai and inside Izack Tago and Taylan May who became one of the premiership’s top centre-wing duos in their first year in the top-grade last season.

South Sydney Rabbitohs: Ben Lovett

South Sydney did not make a single signing this offseason instead opting to promote juniors Ben Lovett and Leon Te Hau to the top squad with Mark Nicholls and Kodi Nikorima Dolphins-bound and Jaxson Paulo linking up with the Roosters. Hailing from Parkes, Lovett was named South Sydney’s Jersey Flegg Player of the Year in 2021 before being rewarded with an NRL development contract in 2022. Injuries slowed his progress last year but the workhorse edge forward will look to push for an NRL debut this season. Should starting second-rowers Jai Arrow and Keaon Koloamatangi find themselves unavailable at any point of the season, the 20-year-old will be eager to put his hand up for head coach Jason Demetriou.

St. George Illawarra Dragons: Jacob Liddle

After a season which saw the Dragons finish 12-12 and miss out on the postseason, the Red V faithful hoped that a foray into the free agent market could change the side’s outlook, however, many were left underwhelmed. Jacob Liddle and Zane Musgrove make the move over from the spoon-winning Wests Tigers whilst Ben Murdoch-Masila joins the club after being granted an early release from the Warriors. Tariq Sims, Josh McGuire, and Andrew McCullough are the regulars who find themselves elsewhere for 2023. McCullough’s retirement leaves a hole at nine for Anthony Griffin’s side with Liddle jostling with rookies Haele Finau and Connor Muhleisen for the vacancy. Liddle appeared in just 10 games last year for the Wests Tigers and finished the year playing NSW Cup behind Fa’amanu Brown and Jake Simpkin. The 26-year-old recorded just the lone try contribution in 526 NRL minutes last season – a number he will have to improve upon to prove himself as a week-to-week first-grader. His running game out of dummy-half is his strongest asset, however, the Dragons’ pack will need to be laying platforms for his skillset to shine.

Sydney Roosters: Brandon Smith

News of Brandon Smith’s decision to defect from Melbourne to the Roosters for 2023 turned many a head when it broke midway through last year. Smith, in search of an 80-minute hooker role, was wooed by the Roosters’ bigwigs and inches the side closer to premiership contention after a topsy-turvy 2022. Much of Smith’s football last season came as a middle as Craig Bellamy did what he could to ensure both he and Harry Grant were as impactful as possible. The NRL’s Hooker of the Year in 2021, Smith is absurdly dangerous out of dummy-half thanks to his powerful frame and footspeed and forms a mouth-wateringly potent spine alongside James Tedesco, Sam Walker, and Luke Keary. It may take a transition period after six seasons with the Storm but there is no doubting Smith’s ability to turn tides as a nine and consistently punch holes through the middle of opposing defences.

Warriors: Marata Niukore

The Warriors are another club who went to the open market in pursuit of a squad refresh netting themselves the likes of Marata Niukore, Te Maire Martin, Mitch Barnett, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Dylan Walker. Reece Walsh, Euan Aitken, and Eliesa Katoa are among the departees, however, the side looks stronger and, with first-year head coach Andrew Webster at the helm, there is some optimism in Auckland. Several of their recruits are expected to play an influential role in 2023, however, Niukore may prove the biggest fish of the lot. The 26-year-old played 19 games for grand finalists Parramatta across multiple positions this past season and was rewarded with an international debut for the Kiwis midyear. A capable middle, edge forward, and centre, Webster has options as far as utilising Niukore goes, however, he started his final seven games last season at #13 as the Eels made a run towards the big dance. Strong and deceptively quick, Niukore will hope to lead the Warriors to their first finals appearance since 2018 in the first year of his four-year deal.

Wests Tigers: Apisai Koroisau

The Wests Tigers have a serious claim to the title of ‘best recruitment drive’ as they enter the season aiming to break an 11-year finals drought. With Apisai Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i, David Klemmer and John Bateman all among the big names joining the club this season coupled with the revamped coaching duo of Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall, 2023 looks an exciting time for the Wests Tigers. Koroisau is among the upper-echelon of hookers in the NRL and is fresh off a three-year period with Penrith in which he made three Grand Finals, won two of them, and earnt an Origin debut. His craftiness and nous around the ruck will help sharpen up the side’s attack and make the job of those around him easier. Among all hookers last season, only Harry Grant was involved in a higher percentage of his team’s tries than Koroisau. Feeding the playmakers around him this season will prove a vastly different task to his previous three seasons but expect Koroisau’s class to shine through.

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