Jamie Soward encourages more young British players to have a crack Down Under
Former NRL star-turned-pundit Jamie Soward believes more young British players should test themselves Down Under.
The 2010 NRL Premiership winning playmaker believes new side Dolphins could be looking in the British game to add to their squad for their inaugural season in 2023.
Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins will become the 17th side in the NRL in 2023. They most recently added young forward Tom Gilbert to their team for the 2023 campaign. They are reportedly interested in Cameron Munster from Melbourne Storm, who is under contract until the end of 2023.
He also believes the newest side could provide opportunities for players in England.
“If you’re 17 or 18, come out and give it a crack,” Soward said on the Love Rugby League podcast.
“You’ve got nothing to lose. If you get to 2023 and you’re killing it in Super League, I don’t know if too many clubs will pay the transfer fees.
“The thing with the Dolphins, for Super League, there’s going to be a lot of guys over there who are going to get an opportunity because they need to get 34 players.”
Jamie Soward on transfer fees
However, the 37-year-old believes Super League’s transfer fees are putting off NRL clubs from looking abroad.
He added: “I think what turns me off Super League is the transfer fee. We don’t have a transfer fee over here. If you’re out of sorts or you want to buy a player, you pay the player. I understand it’s different there.
“I think that turns a few clubs off. You’ve got to pay the player, whatever that is, then you have to pay the club. It just doesn’t make sense.
“If you can get that transfer fee waived, I think there’s plenty of opportunities for Super League players to come out and test themselves in the best competition in the world.
“I played with Andy Ackers and I told him to get out there in 2016. Him and James Cunningham as well to test themselves and come out.
“Hookers and sevens, we’re drying up. Good quality hookers and number sevens, and they probably still are a little bit out here. But again, the transfer fees could be turning clubs off.”
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