The Wallabies tackle the British & Irish Lions in the first rugby test this weekend at Suncorp Stadium—which got us thinking about who in the current crop of NRL stars could have been playing, had they taken a slightly different path in their footballing careers?
Sydney Roosters flyer and former NSW Waratah Mark Nawaqanitawase is the first and most obvious choice of course, having come from the Wallabies program itself just 12 months ago as an almost direct replacement for Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali’i who will face the Lions on Saturday.
But the 24-year-old is far from alone, in fact a significant portion of today’s NRL stars have strong backgrounds in rugby union, with some even playing professionally before transitioning to rugby league.
Here are seven more NRL first-graders who could have made an equally big impact in the 15-a-side game.
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Cam Murray
A Mascot Jets junior in rugby league, the South Sydney captain led the GPS-winning Newington College First XV in 2015, before signing with the Rabbitohs later the same year—a classic case of ‘what might have been’ for the Wallabies.
Payne Haas
Arguably the best rugby league forward in a generation, if not longer, Haas played rugby union in his junior years and reports continue to emerge from time to time he’d one day consider a return. Haas’ path into the NRL was secured when he attended the renowned rugby league talent factory, Keebra Park State High.
Ryan Papenhuyzen
The Melbourne Storm fullback was another highly talented two-code junior. Growing up in Sydney he spent three seasons in the First XV at Oakhill College, while also representing the Australian Schoolboys in rugby league before going on to link with the Balmain Tigers.
Ezra Mam
He now plays five-eighth for the Broncos, but as a teenager Mam played First XV rugby for Ambrose Treacy College in Brisbane. He was initially recruited into the Broncos’ development system as a 13-year-old and linked with feeder club Souths Logan Magpies in 2021, winning Rookie of the Year.
Angus Crichton
Boarding at The Scots College, Crichton enjoyed a distinguished rugby union career before signing with South Sydney in late 2014. He won the GPS title with The Scots College First XV in 2013 and represented New South Wales Schoolboys in 2013 and 2014. He was also selected in the Australia Schoolboys rugby squads in both years.
Eliesa Katoa
After moving to New Zealand in 2017 on a rugby scholarship with Tamaki College in Auckland, Tongan-born Katoa originally played union before being signed by the Warriors in 2020. He joined the Storm in 2023 and is now considered one of the most explosive forwards in the NRL. Could have been a damaging flanker or centre, albeit most likely for the All Blacks.
Kalyn Ponga
The Knights and Maroons star has a NZ-born father and a strong union background. He played GPS First XV rugby with ‘Churchie’ in Brisbane and has expressed interest in representing the All Blacks on several occasions, with rumours of a potential code switch continuing to grow louder.
The next British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand is scheduled for 2029 when Ponga will still be just 31, so who knows?