From family ties to a sneaky vape - these are some of the ways NRL players have secured an early exit from their clubs
Contracts aren’t necessarily worth the paper they’re written on in the NRL. Don’t believe us? Check out some of the reasons players have failed to see out their contracted term at a club.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
He won’t be the first, nor will he be the last.
But Lachlan Galvin’s anticipated club debut for Canterbury on Monday will be further proof contracts aren’t necessarily worth the paper they’re written on in the NRL.
From the moment the Tigers stated that Galvin would be departing Concord at the end of 2026 - and that they’d keep him until then - past experience has shown all roads led to an early departure.
This masthead has broken down some of the strangest ways a player, rightly or wrongly, failed to see out the end of their contracted term at a club.
FILE A BULLYING COMPLAINT AGAINST YOUR CLUB AFTER COMPILING A DOSSIER ON YOUR COACH – LACHLAN GALVIN
It’s an unusual one. The beginning of the end for Galvin’s stint at the Tigers came via a document — a dossier detailing his grievances with coach Benji Marshall. Agent Isaac Moses presented the list to Tigers CEO Shane Richardson and after accusing the club of bullying, it was only a matter of time before Galvin signed with the Bulldogs. Marshall has denied anyone had been bullied at the club.
LIKE A SOCIAL MEDIA POST CRITICISING YOUR COACH – MARTIN TAUPAU
The Broncos were already under siege when Taupau made a fatal Instagram error. After Elijah Taylor posted a video criticising Broncos coach Michael Maguire, Taupau liked the post. That simple gesture was followed by him heading for the exit doors.
FAMILY REASONS – REECE WALSH, JAMES FISHER-HARRIS, DYLAN WALKER
One of the most common reasons to end a contract early. Walsh and Walker moved back to Australia from New Zealand to be closer to family, while Fisher-Harris went the opposite way, leaving a dynasty at Penrith to return home and become a leader at the Warriors.
REFUSE TO TRAIN AFTER AN ASSISTANT COACH’S COMMENT – FRANCIS MOLO
Molo took a stand over values. A comment from an assistant coach didn’t sit right with him, and he refused to attend training. It took a while but it resulted in a new start with the Dolphins.
CLAIM YOU WERE ONLY “GETTING A PHONE CHARGER” – JOSH ADDO-CARR
After failing a roadside drug test for cocaine, Addo-Carr insisted he wasn’t using drugs — he was just out to get a phone charger. The Bulldogs stood by him until a second test came back positive. That was the end of that.
DEMAND TO PLAY CENTRE AND GET YOUR RELEASE – ZAC LOMAX
In red-hot form on the wing, Lomax wasn’t happy. He wanted to play centre — his preferred position. So unhappy, in fact, that he requested a release from his junior club rather than stay out wide and while they didn’t want to, the Dragons eventually obliged.
ASK NICELY TO SWITCH CODES – JOSEPH MANU
This one was simple: Manu wanted to give rugby union a go. He asked for a release, the Roosters didn’t want to stand in his way, and it was sayonara and off to Japan.
NAP IN A TEAMMATE’S CAR DURING TRAINING – MOSES SULI
Suli had a slow start to his NRL career, and one sleepy mistake proved costly. While his teammates trained at the gym, he was found dozing off in a teammate’s car. He was swiftly shown the door.
TRY TO SELL THE TEAM SPEAKER ON EBAY – LACHLAN LEWIS
We went a little further back for this one. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, Lewis made a bizarre move — taking the team’s speaker and listing it on eBay. The Bulldogs cut ties immediately. No other club came calling, and a chain was later seen wrapped around the gym speaker.
VAPE IN THE SHEDS AT HALFTIME – KEVIN PROCTOR
Not playing that day didn’t stop Proctor from breaking team rules — and common sense. He vaped in the bathroom at halftime and posted it to Instagram. The Titans didn’t take long to terminate his contract, marking the end of his NRL career.
LEAVE AFTER A BROKEN CONTRACT PROMISE – BENJI MARSHALL
In 2013, the Tigers reportedly failed to deliver on a contract extension. With a move to rugby union on his mind, Marshall asked for a release and got it. That marked the first of his two exits from the club.
BE LATE TO TRAINING — TWICE – JORDAN MILLER
New coach, new standards. Miller turned up late to Tigers training on two occasions. That was all it took — the club let him go shortly after.
CHASE THE NFL DREAM – JARRYD HAYNE, VALENTINE HOLMES
The allure of the NFL was strong for both Hayne and Holmes. They left their deals early, gave it a shot, eventually both returned back to the game.
HOST A BBQ DURING COVID LOCKDOWNS – PAUL VAUGHAN
It was peak pandemic, and hosting a party was a big no-no. Vaughan ignored the rules, inviting teammates over for a BBQ. The Dragons tore up his contract immediately.
TAKE BANNED SUBSTANCES – BRONSON XERRI
Xerri was caught using performance-enhancing drugs. He served a four-year ban and was left clubless — a cautionary tale for all.
More Coverage
Originally published as From family ties to a sneaky vape - these are some of the ways NRL players have secured an early exit from their clubs
Origin teams: Bellamy backs his man for vacant Blues’ spot
Laurie Daley will name his squad for Origin II following the King’s Birthday clash between the Bulldogs and Eels on Monday and it’s a Storm enforcer who has been tipped to fill Mitch Barnett’s boots.
NRL Casualty Ward: Turbo close to return, Dragon hospitalised
Tom Trbojevic has passed a major hurdle ahead of his return to the NRL, while the Dragons received positive news after a player was rushed to hospital on Friday night.