LeagueCast

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The signing of overseas players hasn't always meant adding quality to the competition, but this list of the very best certainly did. Although it's fair to say some made much more of an impact than others.

For instance, the 'greatest player of all-time', Andrew Johns, made just three appearances for Warrington at the end of the 2005 season, and couldn't lead them to silverware.

In the 1980s it was common practice for legendary NRL players to sign short-term contracts in England during the off-season 'Down Under'. More recently, imports have actually made their name in Super League, winning Grand Finals, Challenge Cups and earning recognition as the Man of Steel.

Widely regarded as one of the games' finest players, Australian international player and coach, Mal Meninga, joined St Helens for the 1984/85 season and helped them win the Lancashire Cup and Premiership title. While Kiwi centre, Dean Bell, won seven successive Challenge Cup Finals with Wigan, including three as captain, and made such an impact he was the subject of 'This is Your Life' in 1993.

Robbie Paul followed his brother Henry to Bradford and lit up the game making rugby league 'cool'. He was named 'Super League Player of the Season' aged just 20, whilst loose-forward Adrian Vowles with Castleford, centre Jamie Lyon at St Helens, full-back Brett Hodgson with Huddersfield and winger and goal-kicking machine Pat Richards at Wigan were all crowned the 'Man of Steel' between 1999 and 2010.

Joining Robbie at the Bulls was 'The Volcano', Lesley Vainikolo. The huge New Zealand winger won two Super League titles and three Challenge Cup finals with Bradford scoring 149 tries in 152 games. And more recently, Wigan's Bevan French has really shone in Super League, not only winning silverware, but incredibly being named as 'Player of the Match' in three finals during 2024.

So, who will take the accolade as the greatest import of all?

There's nothing more dramatic than a game which is won or lost in the last meaningful moment. These are the ones which live longest in the memory for fans and players alike and which bring both tears of joy and despair in equal measure. And, when it's on the biggest stage, those memories last a lifetime.

Some are lifted by the iconic commentary that sits alongside them. “Long fancies it, Long fancies it. It's wide to West, it's wide to West... ” makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up to this day as Chris Joynt finished off an incredibly desperate last play for St Helens against Bradford that ultimately led to a Grand Final victory.

Occasionally, these dramatic endings also settle city rivalries. David Hodgson for Rovers against FC at Magic Weekend and Chris Green the other way around the following year to equal the score for example. Whilst others have more major consequence, such as Shaun Johnson breaking English hearts at Wembley in the World Cup semi-final or Gareth O'Brien's huge drop-goal in the Million Pound Game which capped off an incredible comeback by Salford in golden point extra-time.

Then there's the drama of the helicopter hovering over the Pennines, waiting to see where the trophy was heading, when Ryan Hall's last second try for Leeds at Huddersfield secured the League Leaders' Shield and completed part two of the Rhinos treble campaign.

While Jack Welsby's try on the hooter for his home town club against their fiercest rivals in the Covid hit Grand Final was equally dramatic despite hardly anyone being there to witness it. The players waited anxiously for the video referee to check it was a try and when confirmed went absolutely wild, even though there was no-one else there to celebrate with them!

The more personal the occasion, the more memorable is the ending, and there's absolutely nothing worse than losing that way, but nothing beats winning like that either.

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