Welsh Rugby League Star Poised for Potential NRL Switch (October 2023)
In a significant development for rugby league enthusiasts, reports from Down Under suggest that former Championship standout and current Welsh international, Josh Ralph, could be the heir apparent to Ben Hunt’s playmaking role at the NRL’s St George Illawarra Dragons.
The 26-year-old Ralph, who was born in Australia but represents Wales through his grandmother, has been making waves in the domestic rugby league scene. After an impressive 2023 season with Toulouse Olympique in the UK’s Championship, where he scored 14 tries in 20 games, Ralph has now set his sights on the NRL.
Following Toulouse’s narrow miss on promotion to Super League, Ralph departed the French club in October and has since been plying his trade in the New South Wales Cup, registering an impressive eight assists in just four games for the Dragons’ reserve-grade side. This eye-catching performance has caught the attention of head coach Shane Flanagan and several other NRL clubs, who are now monitoring the off-contract player’s progress with a view to signing him for the 2025 season.
Ralph’s potential move to the NRL could be accelerated when current Dragons veteran Ben Hunt, aged 34, is called up for Queensland’s State of Origin duties. This will provide Ralph with a prime opportunity to impress Flanagan and stake his claim for the starting playmaking role, which could potentially lead to a long-term contract with the NRL side.
The Welsh international, who has seven caps for his national team and featured in the recent Rugby League World Cup, is highly regarded for his offensive capabilities, with Toulouse’s head coach Sylvain Houles praising his ability to “attack the line well” and bring “a lot of uncertainty” to the opposition.
As the rugby league world turns its attention to the upcoming season, the potential acquisition of Josh Ralph by the St George Illawarra Dragons will be a storyline to follow closely, particularly for those interested in rugby league betting and the latest rugby league results and rugby league world cup fixtures.
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