This was published 9 years ago
Top 10 NRL mid-season moves
David Middleton
Rod Silva – Easts to Canterbury
1995
Eastern Suburbs were slowly emerging from their ‘transit lounge’ days when promising fullback Rod Silva was released early in the 1995 season, paving the way for a switch to Canterbury. Silva traded up spectacularly and that September he celebrated a premiership win with the Bulldogs.
Richard Fa’aoso – Newcastle to
Melbourne 2012
Newcastle started the 2012 season with high hopes following the appointment of Wayne Bennett and the arrival of financial ‘saviour’ Nathan Tinkler but there was no insurance against injuries and the rot soon set in. As Bennett looked to make changes to his roster for 2013 journeyman forward Richie Fa’aoso was granted a release to join the Melbourne Storm. Fa’aoso had the last laugh when he came off the bench in the Storm’s grand final victory over the Bulldogs.
Brett Finch – Parramatta to
Melbourne 2009
There was no shortage of irony contained within Brett Finch’s switch from Parramatta to Melbourne in 2009. After a tempestuous period under Eels coach Daniel Anderson, Finch headed south with no guarantees but quickly established a place in the line-up alongside halfback Cooper Cronk. Finch went on to share in a grand final win against the club he left but the premiership title was stripped six months later after the club flaunted the salary cap.
Clint Newton – Newcastle to
Melbourne 2007
If it wasn’t for the fact that the Storm were later stripped of their 2007 and 2009 premiership titles, Newton’s switch from Newcastle to Melbourne in ’07 would have been considered one of the best career moves of all time. The Knights were floundering under coach Brian Smith and eventually finished 15th, while Newton ran a lap of honour with his new club after scoring a try in the Storm’s 34-8 grand final win over Manly.
Nathan Peats - Eels to Gold Coast 2016
After Parramatta were caught out cheating the salary cap in 2016, the club had to offload some players to get their cap in order. Peats was a fan favourite at the Eels but was forced to sign with the Titans. There were reports that Peats may make his way back to the Eels but nothing has eventuated just yet.
Krisnan Inu – Warriors to
Canterbury 2012
A talented centre and goal kicker, Inu had played in the 2009 grand final for Parramatta and two years later he played in a second decider after transferring to the Warriors. But Inu struggled to maintain his form under coach Ivan Cleary in 2012 and was granted an early release to join the Bulldogs. By the end of the season Inu found himself in another grand final but the result was another disappointment.
Nathan Fien – Warriors to St
George Illawarra 2009
Fien had risen to New Zealand honours while playing for the Warriors in 2006 (remember the Grannygate scandal?) before signing a three-year deal to play under Wayne Bennett at the Dragons from 2010. The Warriors agreed to an early release, allowing Fien to link with the Dragons six months early and he made the most of the move, playing finals football in ’09 and celebrating a premiership win the following winter.
Jamie Soward – Sydney Roosters to
St George Illawarra 2007
Soward had enjoyed much success in the Roosters’ lower grades but the club’s stock of quality halves was overflowing. The 22-year-old was allowed a release to join the Dragons in 2007 and he soon established himself as a key figure at his new club. By 2010 he had helped the Dragons to end a 31-year premiership drought.
Junior Paulo – Parramatta to
Canberra 2016
The giant front-rower came through the grades at Parramatta before cementing a place in the Eels’ top squad but with the salary cap scandal enveloping the club in 2016 Paulo was granted an immediate release. Signed by his former coach Ricky Stuart at Canberra, Paulo helped the club surge into the top four and finish the year one win from the grand final.
