The NRL community is abuzz today following news that breakaway rugby union competition R360 is set to launch in 2026.
But given the relatively small number of players likely to be involved, there may be a far greater threat on the immediate horizon for the NRL that has been getting very little attention—the English Super League.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Super League grand final on October 12, England’s current top-tier competition will expand from 12 to 14 sides from 2026, something that will instantly require an additional 40-50 players.
While much of this talent will come through British and French player pathways, there will still need to be a sizeable component sourced from the Southern Hemisphere given Super League officials have also approved an increase in the allowed number of ‘overseas quota’ players from seven to ten per club.
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56 more overseas players in 2026
There were already fears of a thinning out of the NRL talent pool with the imminent arrival of the Perth Bears in the 2027 season and a PNG side from 2028.
The latest Super League changes mean an additional 56 contracts will also need to be filled by overseas players between now and the start of the 2026 Super League season, many of whom will no doubt come from the NRL, NSW Cup, Q Cup and junior development pathways across Australia.
Of the top four Super League teams in 2025— Hull KR, Wigan, Leigh and Leeds—none currently has more than seven overseas players signed for 2026 with Brad Arthur’s Leeds Rhinos having just five on its books meaning there are plenty of vacant spots that need to be filled with quality players.
In fact, Wakefield Trinity is the only current Super League side with 10 confirmed overseas players on their roster for next season, including soon-to-arrive Brisbane Broncos utility forward Tyson Smoothy.
The game’s governing body in England, the RFL, defines overseas quota players as those who are ‘non-federation trained’ meaning they don’t have three or more years playing in Europe before the age of 21.