Top 10 Mid-season signings

Mid-season signings in the last few years have been a important strategy and are getting more popular than ever. NRL clubs struggling with their cap, depth or overall strike power are usually the ones to pick up and let go of the players that aren't being favoured or just not wanted at their current club. Parramatta's salary cap saga has also overall improved the talent of the mid-season list in 2016 featuring in one signing and two losses most by any other club. The following list will be portrayed by the mid-season signings impacts on the roster, finals chances and most importantly, winning. Brendan Elliot [caption id="attachment_23372" align="aligncenter" width="630"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 31: Brendan Elliot of the Knights watches on during the round 21 NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Newcastle Knights at Brookvale Oval on July 31, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)[/caption] Roosters fringe player Brendan Elliot has found a home at the struggling Newcastle Knights. Elliot has added much-needed determination to an inexperienced Newcastle side, playing nine games and scoring six tries. Elliot and Mitchell Barnett (notable mention) have enticed the desire to win but no outcome has come from it. There is no finals footy nor impacts on the roster for this outfit as they are in worst stage of rebuilding. There are many positives to extract out of Elliot, as he is only 22-years old and with every game the NRL fans see him play there are more thoughts of him being a future talent of the game. Zak Hardaker [caption id="attachment_23373" align="aligncenter" width="630"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: Zak Hardaker of the Panthers warms up prior to the round 17 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium on July 2, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)[/caption] The best player in the Super League last year was part of a player swap with Penrith Panthers hooker James Segeyaro. Zak Hardaker hasn't played his best position in the NRL yet, coming off the bench in the last twenty to thirty minutes of the game to play centre. Hardaker has had a quiet contribution in the games he has played racking up a try, two try assists, a line break and quite a few tackle breaks with the downside being the five errors in 7 games. The Penrith Panthers are hopeful of making the finals and have almost achieved that goal. Hardaker hasn't had any real impact so far in the form of winning or the roster, being almost a straight swap for Segeyaro, but in saying that, Hardaker can provide much-needed energy off the bench and be a difference maker heading into the finals. Chris Grevsmuhl [caption id="attachment_23374" align="aligncenter" width="630"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 24: Chris Grevsmuhl of the Panthers is tackled during the round 16 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Pepper Stadium on June 24, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] This former South Sydney player wasn't very popular with the selection process as he signed a contract with Penrith before starting the 2016 season but was then released early to take up the Panthers contract a year early. Chris Grevsmuhl is a very exciting prospect heading into the future at back row and that is why the Penrith Panthers signed him. This saw Elijah Taylor released to the Tigers. So far this season, Grevsmuhl has mostly played off the bench and continued to put in good performances having a tackle efficiency of 95% and an average of eleven meters to each on of his runs. Tight defence and solid ball running have seen Grevsmuhl play more minutes and make more of an impact on a game. If Panthers continue to perform and remain in finals contention, the fresh back rower will have a damaging impact on fatigued players and especially the half he is targeting. Ryan Morgan [caption id="attachment_23366" align="aligncenter" width="630"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Ryan Morgan of the Storm attempts to break away from the defence during the round 17 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium on July 1, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] NSW cup to Melbourne Storm first grade has been a great move for Morgan. The Parramatta Eels pushed him out of the club to be able to compete for points this year. Ryan Morgan is defensively talented which makes him fit right into the Melbourne Storm roster. Starting in the centres for Melbourne has not only improved his game but many around him. Morgan has scored two tries and assisted with another two and while mostly recognised for his defensive play, he has also received recognition for the attacking plays he has contributed to. Originally covering for injury, Craig Bellamy has turned to starting Morgan in a full strength back line to provide assistance to the electrifying Koroibete's defensive and offensive game by being able to provide early ball. This is the sole reason why Morgan should be considered an important player in the Melbourne lineup. The team will continue to win games and ultimately contend to be potential premiership winners. Raymond Faitala-Mariner [caption id="attachment_23375" align="aligncenter" width="630"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Craig Garvey of the Bulldogs celebrate victory during the round 10 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on May 15, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] The Warriors engaged in a player swap with the Bulldogs for Shaun Lane. Since the swap, Lane has hardly seen first grade while Faitala-Mariner has played in a couple. Faitala-Mariner is no pushover when it comes to his size and weight, at 6'1 and over 100kgs he's quite a big man to be playing full games in second row.Faitala-Mariner is quite young, talented and looking to be a good prospect in a few years for the Bulldogs having minimal impact on the current roster. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs chances of any advancement form of the finals is minimal unless if the forwards continue to perform Faitala-Mariner can potentially have a huge impact on any game the Bulldogs compete in like any hulking forward in the competition. Jarryd Hayne [caption id="attachment_23218" align="aligncenter" width="630"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Jarryd Hayne of the Titans catches the ball during the team warm ups before the round 22 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the New Zealand Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium on August 7, 2016 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] The previous Dally M medalist has made his return to Rugby League and most importantly the NRL. The Gold Coast Titans have benefited off the field just as much as on the park. Sellout crowds being one of the positives about signing an everyday superstar. If the Titans were a chance of making the finals before he arrived back on Rugby Leagues doorstep, imagine the impact a genuine superstar of the game is going to do to eventually improve those chances, down to kicking a winning field goal, sorry Wests fans. The roster will take a few hits but in saying that mostly the back line players will take a hit in which the Titans have signed a man from the UK to fill that void. The impact of Jarryd Hayne has had in just three games has placed him high on the list, already producing try assists and line breaks. Jeff Robson [caption id="attachment_22954" align="aligncenter" width="630"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Jeff Robson of the Eels looks at Mitchell Pearce of the Roosters appeal a decision during the round 18 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Sydney Roosters at Pirtek Stadium on July 8, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] The level-headed half signed on with the shipwreck that is Parramatta and has managed to prove many doubters wrong. Released from the Warriors while playing reserve grade, Robson has been terrific since joining the Parramatta Eels even filling in as hooker. Jeff Robson has provided experience to a depleted side with both star halves for the Eels sitting on the sidelines. Robson has added composure and patience to a side with nothing to win but respect and self-pride. It's amazing how the Eels were able to stand up to almost a full strength top four Raiders side, without Jeff Robson the team would have fallen within the first half. The roster has not take a hit since Robson joined due to the Eels having a clean out to clear the cap. There will be no finals for the Parramatta Eels, but if there was, Jeff Robson would still provide a solid kicking and structured game to contend and close out close games. Junior Paulo [caption id="attachment_23376" align="aligncenter" width="630"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: Junior Paulo of the Raiders runs the ball during the round 22 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Canberra Raiders at Shark Park on August 6, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)[/caption] The Canberra wrecking ball has demolished the park since joining the Raiders. Junior is another player that was pushed out by the Parramatta club. The front rower was the missing puzzle in many people's eyes in reference to Canberra's roster in order to compete for the premiership. Almost every time Junior Paulo touches the ball he breaks a tackle and carries a further two or three players on his body. This makes the forwards roll on and creates the space for the backs to work their magic, that's a huge advantage and impact Paulo has. The roster has been changed with Paul Vaughn a certain starter in previous years, now ousted from playing first grade. The Raiders are going to make the finals and will need their forwards playing the best they possibly can including Junior Paulo. Paulo improves Canberra's chance of winning each time he steps on to the park which could potentially equal success comes finals time. Konrad Hurrell [caption id="attachment_23377" align="aligncenter" width="630"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Konrad Hurrell of the Titans in action during the round 22 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the New Zealand Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium on August 7, 2016 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] The out of favoured centre with a cult following was moved on by the Warriors and signed with the Gold Coast Titans. This season he's looking fitter, faster and stronger than ever. Hurrell has already become a club favourite making their home shake to the scream of "Konnie". The well-managed Titans have able to bring Hurrell into the playing group, with likes of Jarryd Hayne and Nathan Peats, without any major repercussions so far. The defence ofHurrell may be questioned but definitely hasn't looked like a weakness thus far, a strong metre eater, he has continued to rack up above two hundred running meters as well as add tries, tackle breaks and line breaks. The positives Titans receive from Konrad will definitely help the team in their quest for the finals. The strike out wide and the meters he makes helps out the forwards, improves the field position and the team potentially scores. Nathan Peats [caption id="attachment_23047" align="aligncenter" width="630"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Nathan Peats of the Titans throws a pass during the round 20 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Parramatta Eels at Cbus Super Stadium on July 23, 2016 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Getty Images)[/caption] Previous starting hooker for the Parramatta Eels. Nathan Peats is another player on this list affected by the salary cap saga but has found a new home on the Gold Coast where he may potentially play finals footy and State of Origin, two things he failed to do at his previous club. The Gold Coast Titans were able to pick up Peats without damaging their roster, with most of the off-contract hooking prospects likely to move on before he was signed. Peats started off the bench when first joined the club and is now one of the first picked players to start the game, adding an attacking dynamic and versatility to the side. The chances of playing finals and winning overall has improved dramatically since he joined the club. Peats being able to play as a hooker, or in the back-row allowing the experienced Nathan Friend to play out the rest of game, gives the Gold Coast an extra chance of closing out games is one of those reasons.

		P	W	L	PTS	+/-
1	CAN	9	8	1	18	106
2	NZW	9	7	2	16	1
3	MEL	9	6	3	14	140
4	CBR	10	7	3	14	48
5	CRO	10	6	4	12	65
6	NQL	9	4	4	11	-14
7	BRI	10	5	5	10	46
8	MAN	9	4	5	10	20

Top 10 Mid-season signings

Raymond Faitala-Mariner

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