Players who haven't come through the system

[cleary89]

In the dragons forum there were people saying how with all our latest signings, they are no hope of being big name NRL players. Guys like Rulon Nutira, the 25 year old Abattoir worker who was playing at Gundagai last year.

He's been in the system at Melbourne, but obviously didn't make it and now has come through a different way.

People through up names like Steve Morris and a few others from the past. The only ones I can think of recently are Brenton Lawrence - captain coach of a team in Canberra before playing QLD cup, David Fifita - was playing in France before getting a start in the NRL. Anthony Don and Shane Pumipi.

So basically, post anyone you can think of that has had to come into the NRL from any other way rather than Mattys cup/SG Ball/NYC/NSW cup/NRL or ESL/NRL.

Bit hard these days, every decent player ends up in an SG Ball team somewhere.

 

[muzby]

garrick morgan

 

[Mr Angry]

Ewen McGrady

 

[innsaneink]

David Fifita was in Wests Tigers feeder programs (Magpies) before France I think.

Sheens found Taniela Tuiaki playing club rugby somewhere , Manly RU I think.

...and also Jarrod Saffy - South Africa

 

[Vic Mackey]

Yeah tuiaki was one out of the box. Wasn't he playing second row for manly RU? Spent a year between the backrow and wing in NSW cup at like 24 then was winger of the year and leading try scorer 2 years later.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Suaia Matangi for the Warriors- was in prison in in Auckland, decided to get his shit together and trained, got out and worked his way to NRL in his early/mid 20s through club footy.

 

[Chief_Chujo]

Adam mogg.

Qld cup till his mid twenties, went on to own gasnier in origin and kick start a dynasty.

 

[ek999]

Shane Pumipi was at the Bulldogs before joining the Dragons. Definitely played NSW Cup and I'm pretty sure he was in U20s too

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

Sisa Waqa came to the Roosters via Gordon Rugby club. From memory he travelled from Fiji to take a contract with the Brumbies but didn't get the required clearance needed and wound up at Gordon.

 

[Special K]

Shane Pumipi was at the Bulldogs before joining the Dragons. Definitely played NSW Cup and I'm pretty sure he was in U20s too

Yup he played sharks 20's before joining the dogs

 

[Parra]

Do Ben Kennedy and Cooper Cronk qualify?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Semi Radradra-came to Parra in 2012 from Fijian 7's and played a year of 20's and half a year in NSW cup.

 

[Sydney Knight]

The New Zealand prison system seems to be the other non traditional path for the NRL.

They play some sort of bull rush game which sorts the men from the boys

 

[Dutchy]

Matai. Bartercard Cup > QLD Cup > Manly via preseason trials.

 

[Tommo]

Do Ben Kennedy and Cooper Cronk qualify?

Cooper Cronk played in the same Norths Colts team as Cam Smith and Billy Slater.

 

[cleary89]

Shane Pumipi was at the Bulldogs before joining the Dragons. Definitely played NSW Cup and I'm pretty sure he was in U20s too

I heard he was playing for Bankstown in the bundy cup but only seems like he did that for half a season before he got picked up by a NSW cup side.

So while he doesn't really qualify, still interested in hearing about players who haven't just gone juniors with a club/u20s/nsw or qld cup/nrl. Guys who have had to play in bush or local leagues before they get a call up. No, Todd Carney doesn't count at Atherton either.

 

[The Engineers Room]

Manu Mau?

 

[Son of Minto]

Pumipi, Nutira and Dave Fifita all played NYC for a year or two

Joel Riethmuller floated around the Q Cup for a few years before joining the Cows. I dont think he was ever in an NRL system before that.

 

[Parra]

Cooper Cronk played in the same Norths Colts team as Cam Smith and Billy Slater.

So after high school and well into the "system" outlined in the OP. That's what made me think he fit the category. Didn't come in via the Harold Matthews/SG Ball route. Where does the Norths Colts team fit in the Mattys cup/SG Ball/NYC/NSW cup/NRL or ESL/NRL scheme?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Konrad Hurrell was scouted from high school Rugby Union straight to Warriors NYC then into first grade
after only a year of league I think.