NRL hooker on Super League recruitment radars with quota changes imminent…
It appears you’re referring to a growing trend: NRL hookers are drawing interest from Super League clubs, especially as overseas quota rules evolve. Here’s the latest
A recent catalogue lists Soni Luke (Penrith), Siliva Havili (South Sydney), and Josh Papali’i (Canberra) among the hookers being made available to Super League teams for the 2026 season .
Several Super League hookers have declined interest from NRL clubs. The Daily Telegraph reports that at least one unnamed Super League hooker has turned down an NRL approach for 2026 .
Likely candidates include Edwin Ipape (Leigh Leopards), Tom Deakin and Zac Woolford (Huddersfield) .
Super League is set to introduce new quotas, including relaxation of work-permit rules. Players aged 24 or under, with sufficient NSW or Queensland Cup experience, may now qualify as overseas players under Governing Body Endorsement (GBE). This opens recruitment to younger NRL-affiliated talent .
Separately, discussions are underway about reclassifying long-term overseas players—those with five or six years in Super League—as domestic quota exempt. This could free up slots for fresh imports .
For Super League clubs: They’ll have broader access to mid‑tier NRL hookers and can better manage their overseas quotas via these reforms.
For NRL hookers: Players like Luke, Havili, and Papali’i may find attractive options in England, especially with stronger negotiating leverage.
For Super League hookers: Stars like Ipape are choosing to stay, either due to club loyalty or upcoming NRL franchise openings (e.g., PNG in 2028).
NRL hookers are increasingly targeted by Super League teams, especially with 2026 recruitment underway. Concurrently, Super League hookers are holding firm on staying put, and rule tweaks are set to further grease the wheels of overseas talent moves.
