NRL 2022: Ranking Melbourne’s departing players in the past decade from best to worst

Buying Melbourne players should come with a warning label. While they shine with the best club of the past 10 years, it doesn’t always work out elsewhere. Where will Josh Addo-Carr end up on the list?

Josh Addo-Carr is ready to return to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. Picture: NRL Photos

The Bulldogs’ pitch to Josh Addo-Carr reached its climax in the bowels of their Belmore headquarters. There was no grand sell. No big promises.

The Bulldogs gave Addo-Carr a tour of their facilities and then ushered him into the theatre room, where he was greeted by a photo-shopped image of him in a Bulldogs jersey.

Addo-Carr listened to coach Trent Barrett’s plans. He was serenaded as one of the club’s key arrivals alongside the likes of Matt Burton and Kyle Flanagan.

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He was given no guarantees that he would play fullback — it had been widely reported that he wanted a shot at the No.1 jersey and the pay cheque that comes with playing in the spine.

Nor were there any financial triggers in his contract for playing at the back. The Bulldogs started at three years and ended at four.

The Bulldogs were quick to swoop on Josh Addo-Carr is enjoying being back in Sydney. Picture: Bullodgs Digital

Addo-Carr was quickly won over, his signature the culmination of a two-year chase that involved a handful of clubs and several false starts.

The negotiations with the Bulldogs were swift, in stark contrast to the saga that culminated in his arrival at Belmore.

Truth be told, the Bulldogs owe a debt of gratitude to Melbourne as they arrive at AAMI Park on Sunday to face the Storm. Had it not been for the Storm’s hardline stance, Addo-Carr would never have been a Bulldog.

His return to Melbourne comes more than two years after he first wanted to quit the club.

Addo-Carr initially approached the Storm for a release on compassionate grounds and wanted to return to Sydney at the end of 2019. He was midway through a four-year deal at the time.

Unlike some of their NRL rivals, the Storm stood strong and told Addo-Carr they would not release him unless they received a benefit – essentially a player swap.

His first preference was joining the likes of Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker at South Sydney but the Rabbitohs’ tight salary cap made it almost impossible.

Josh Addo-Carr developed into one of the best wingers in the NRL at the Storm. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

When that did not eventuate the Wests Tigers became the front-runners to secure him.

As the 2020 season fast approached, Addo-Carr re-committed for that season but was still keen on securing an early exit ahead of 2021.

Melbourne’s premiership success that season did not temper his mood and the NSW and Australian star was convinced he wanted to return home.

The Storm agreed but again under the same terms. So convinced that he had played his last game for the club, the Storm’s head of football Frank Ponissi paid tribute to Addo-Carr at the club’s end of season awards in 2020

“It wasn’t official but because we weren’t going to get back together as a squad for a while, I gave a speech as if he was going to leave,” Ponissi said.

“It wasn’t that he was definitely leaving but we all thought he was. A few weeks after the grand final he decided to stay.”

Discussions progressed with the Tigers – the club he had his first taste of NRL in 2016 before the Storm turned him into a genuine star. He signed a heads of agreement to return to the club but only on the proviso he would join in 2021.

But Addo-Carr had cold feet and felt disrespected by the Tigers failure to give up the likes of Tommy Talau to Melbourne in a player swap to help accommodate him.

That left Addo-Carr with a decision – join the Tigers or see out the final year of his contract with the Storm. He opted to return to Melbourne before testing the open market.

“He was fantastic,” Ponissi said. “He was Mr Enthusiasm. To this day he honoured the whole contract. He was going to leave us with two years to go. Then he was going to go for the last year. He ended up seeing that out as well.

“He is a great story. We signed him the week he made his NRL debut. He was fantastic.”

The Tigers publicly acknowledged in November 2020 that Addo-Carr would not be joining the club. Just weeks later he had committed to a four-year deal to join the Bulldogs.

Josh Addo-Carr has settled in well at the Bulldogs. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Canterbury were never in discussions to land Addo-Carr for 2021 because of salary cap restraints. When the club received word he was still on the market for this year they quickly pounced.

“We identified that we needed some star power and Josh fitted the bill,” then Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill said. “He was the sort of player we knew could attract not only other players but fans and sponsors.”

The Bulldogs have landed a leader off the field and a winner on it.

Addo-Carr is yet to score a try for his new club but he has won praise from Barrett for what he has contributed in the dressing room.

“One of the things we did need was personality and experience,” Barrett said.

“He brings a lot to the club in terms of off field but he brings a hell of a lot around training. His personality is infectious.

“He is enjoying himself. It was different for him when he came back to Sydney. He has realised how big of deal rugby league is in Sydney. He was sheltered a little bit in Melbourne. He has realised how big of a club Canterbury is and how passionate our supporters are.

“I haven’t noticed any difference in his preparation (this week). He is looking forward to going back to Melbourne. No doubt it would be a weird.I thought we unlocked him last week. He got a bit of clear air.”

Addo-Carr said while some of the “best memories in my life have been” in Melbourne, he was looking forward to squaring off against his former side for the first time on Sunday.

“I’m absolutely loving my time in Sydney and I see the potential we have here at the Bulldogs,” Addo-Carr said.