Every year in the NRL we see shock moves, players at a club long-term pushed out, coaches arriving and cutting fan favourites, there's not much you don't see in rugby league.

With a stack of talent in the NRL off-contract this year, there'll be another series of surprise club swaps, stars not offered contracts, some offered more than they're worth.

Now I'm not saying these moves WILL happen, but with the way the NRL is shaping for 2022, don't rule any of these off the cards just yet.

8. Jarrod Croker to the St. George Illawarra Dragons

Croker, like Reynolds, is the club captain and holds records for the Raiders. But similarly to Cameron Smith in 2020, you can't stick around for a swansong if it's going to cost your club young superstars in the making.

The Raiders have Matt Timoko and Harley Smith-Shields waiting in the wings for a spot over Croker and Curtis Scott, and if they don't get it soon, another club will make them an offer they can't refuse. Croker's move to the Dragons frees up a spot at Canberra, while allowing Jack Bird to move to lock, with Croker forming a centre combination with Zac Lomax. Deadly.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 13: Jarrod Croker of the Raiders makes a run during the round 23 NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Canberra Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium on August 13, 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

5 COMMENTS

  3. Many were writing about Hughes potentially going to the Warriors. Yet he stayed at Melbourne for less money.
    Maybe Smith to the Dogs, but will believe it when they say that heโ€™s signed the contract.
    Didnโ€™t the Dogs say that Matterson is a priority for their club.

  4. As much as I love the thought of the broncos losing Tom Deardon and then replacing him with Ash Taylor I really donโ€™t see it happening or working well.

    I think halves coming through the Brisbane system often get over hyped. If Deardon walks I think his career ends up looking similar to Ash Taylorโ€™s. If Taylor returns I donโ€™t think he ever gets back to the form of when he first started.
    Have to remember when Taylor and Deardon were coming up through the ranks they were playing under 20โ€™s with Carrigan Haas Riki Fifita Paix Coates Niu and so on and so on. Obviously both players were going to look good in a team loaded with future first graders and rep players.

    Iโ€™d really like to see them stick with Deardon and hopefully continue to develop him. I like Billy Walters and would pair him or Croft in the halves with Deardon and move Milford to fullback.

  5. Also like the idea of Luke Brooks leaving West Tigers heโ€™s absolutely garbage and they seem to be building a really nice team.

    Shaun Johnson would be a much better option for them and heโ€™s apparently getting shipped around and not so expensive I hear.
    Also think they should throw Nathan Peats a contract as he doesnโ€™t have one and they lack quality hookers.

    1. Daine Laurie
    2. David Nofoaluma
    3. Joey Leilua
    4. James Roberts
    5. Tommy Talua
    6. Adam Doueihi
    7. Shaun Johnson
    8. James Tamou
    9. Nathan Peats
    10. Alex Twal
    11. Luciano Leilua
    12. Luke Garner
    13. Joe Ofahungue

    14. Jacob Liddle
    15. Zane Musgrove
    16. Thomas Mikaele
    17. Shawn Blore

    Itโ€™s like a team full of former rep players mixed with some future rep players. Great size too

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