Revealed: Every Rugby League Mackay and District off-season move
A 2015 NRL premiership winner and an England U23 are the headline acts of the blockbuster moves this RLMD off-season. Discover every player your club has signed.
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A 2015 NRL premiership winner and an England U23 are the headline acts of the many blockbuster moves this RLMD off-season, with Ben barba also poised to make his return to Mackay football.
Clubs have approached the signing season at different paces, with Wests shooting out of the blocks to secure seven new signatures. Sarina and the Brahmans have also been big movers acquiring six new players apiece, while the likes of Brothers, Moranbah, and Carltons have opted for a more considered approach.
Discover every move below.
Sarina Crocs
Sarina have captured the headlines this off-season, luring former Dally M medallist and Super League Man of Steel winner Ben Barba to the club, paving the way for his return to Mackay rugby league.
The Crocs didn’t stop there, adding premiership-winning Cowboy Kane Linnett just days after his retirement from the Super League, with the story behind the signing just as remarkable as the signing itself.
All up, six players have put pen to paper with Sarina so far, with Jarez Bickey, Josh Natoli, Damien Walker, and Ene Shibasaki all joining the club.
Wests Tigers
After a disappointing 2023 campaign, new coach Mick Baker will be hoping to return Wests to the form which saw them reach six consecutive grand finals in the seasons prior.
2020 premiership player Daniel Boyd is set to bring his winning experience back to the valley, while the Tigers have also secured the signature of Riley Kent from the West Brisbane Panthers.
Kent was awarded player of the carnival at September’s Battle of the Mines.
Wests have also completed a raid of their namesake the Tully Tigers, with Peter Uelese, Manny Marshall, Callum Topping, Tupou Junior Fifita, and Alex Smith all making the move down south.
Uelese won Tully’s best back this season, while Marshall and Fifita were previously involved in the New Zealand Warriors junior ranks.
Mackay Magpies
As the Magpies set about defending their RLMD crown, Sarina outside back Kyle Krisanksy-Kennedy has followed new coach Hep Cahill to the club. As a junior, Krisanksy-Kennedy figured for Newcastle and Canterbury-Bankstown’s U18s and U20s.
Krisansky-Kennedy is also a Cutters squad member in 2024, as is new recruit and former Souths hooker Kyle Barnwell.
The pair will be joined in the black and white by middle forward Yaza Stephen, who was involved in the Northern Pride set-up.
Mackay Brothers
Brothers have only secured one official signature so far this off-season, but it was a big one in BRL player of the year Brad Campbell, who will strengthen the club’s playmaking stocks at halfback.
The club’s focus has now shifted to bolstering its middle forwards.
Carltons Red Devils
Carltons’ first signing of the off-season is a major coup, with premiership Magpie Shaun Edwards returning to his junior club. Edwards managed four appearances for the Cutters in 2021.
Moranbah Miners
The Miners are understood to have a few deals in the works, although nothing has been finalised as of yet.
Souths Sharks
Souths have been another busy club throughout the silly season, their signings headlined by 68-game Ipswich Jet Marmin Barba, who will be poised to take on his brother Ben when the Sharks do battle with Sarina.
Billy Vincent comes to Souths from Cairns, where he spent time with the Northern Pride in the Mal Meninga Cup. The Sharks have also secured the signature of Cutter Kobe Bone.
Tyler O’Brien has returned to his junior club, while Henri Stocks - who made his Sharks A-grade debut in 2020 - is also back with Souths. Stocks has spent time with the Cutters and represented Queensland’s U16s back in 2018.
Whitsunday Brahmans
Looking to spring up the ladder in 2024 with new coach Trevor Nosworthy, the Brahmans have been one of biggest players to date this off-season. The club’s array of recruits is headlined by Jake Roberts, who has represented England at U23 level.
Former first-grade player Jarryd Guthrie’s return to the club has been confirmed, while hooker Ratu Tini Tabusakia will be a new face for the Whitsunday outfit.
As will Zak Turnbull, who moves north from the Kootingal Roosters in New South Wales; versatile Gunnedah Bulldog Mitch Fletcher, someone who can play as centre or back-rower; and Reuben Hamson, who was involved in the Central Queensland Capras U21s.
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