The 2025 NRL season may have just started, but the UK Super League is well and truly underway, with four rounds in the books.
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There is a stack of talent plying their trade in that league this year including former NRL stars who are set to finish their careers in a different environment, young guns who have moved overseas in search of greater opportunity and players who are hoping strong Super League form can springboard them towards an NRL contract.
In a new weekly column on foxsports.com.au, we take a snapshot of how our Aussies performed in each round.
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FORMER KNIGHT MAKING HUGE MARK
David Armstrong has enjoyed a terrific start to his Super League career, and that form continued in Round 4 as the former Newcastle Knight starred for Leigh in a gripping 22-22 draw against Hull FC.
In just his third Super League game, Armstrong scored two tries and set up another as Leigh and Hull FC were unable to break a deadlock even after 10 minutes of golden point.
12 months ago, Armstrong was considered one of Newcastle’s most promising talents on the back of a stellar Pre-Season Challenge in the NRL.
He would debut for the Knights in 2024, playing five games at fullback in relief for the injured Kalyn Ponga and scoring five tries.
Given he was behind the superstar Ponga at the Knights and coming off contract at the end of 2024, Armstrong wanted to explore his options.
In somewhat of a surprise, the fullback signed a three-year deal with Leigh. After just four
games, it’s proven to be one of the buys of the year.
The 23-year-old said before the 2025 season that his goal is to return to the NRL, but headed to the UK in sear
“I can come over here and play first-grade, and that was most appealing to me at this stage in my career as well,” Armstrong said.
“I’m getting to an age now where I want to be playing against the best and everything aligned for me here.”
While only early, Armstrong has rocketed into contention for the Man of Steel award in 2025. He’s scored three tries in three games, with Leigh sitting second on the Super League ladder.
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JWH GOING ‘GANGBUSTERS’ AS ROOSTERS REPORTEDLY CIRCLE
The Roosters sure could use Jared Waerea-Hargreaves right now.
After a record-breaking 310 games for the Roosters, Waerea-Hargreaves left the Roosters at the end of his contract to head to Hull KR in the Super League.
The acquisition of the veteran prop has proven to be an astute decision from Hull KR brass, with Waerea-Hargreaves helping to lead the team to an unbeaten 4-0 record.
That start is good enough for the Rovers to be at the top of the Super League ladder after the first month.
Waerea-Hargreaves’ form coupled with the Roosters’ shocking injury toll and listless display against Brisbane in Round 1 led The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield to suggest the Roosters try and attempt a reunion.
“They have money available because they were hoping to have Joey Manu back for second half of the season but he’s going to French rugby,” Rothfield said on NRL360.
“Jared is going gangbusters at the moment. The Roosters recruitment people have discussed putting out a call to Jared to see if he’s willing to come back. Even if it’s for 14-15 games.
They want his presence and authority in the dressing sheds… I think there’s a slight possibility of it happening.”
Despite Rothfield’s mail, NRL360 host Braith Anasta poured cold water on a JWH-Roosters reunion this season.
“Hull KR have a chance of winning a premiership this year. They will not let him go,” Anasta said.
“I hear he’s very happy over there.”
Souths shine in classic Wayne win | 01:49
PNG INTERNATIONAL HITS GROUND RUNNING
The Castleford Tigers nabbed their first win of the season in Round 4, thanks to the theatrics of a former Queensland Cup favourite.
In just his fourth appearance in the Super League, Papua New Guinea international Judah Rimbu exploded off the bench against Salford Red Devils to help his side storm home to a 22-14 victory.
Not only did the former PNG Hunter set up forward Muizz Mustapha early in the second half, but he scored the match-winning try with five minutes left on the board, darting out from dummy-half to secure the victory.
In an effort that saw him pick up man-of-the-match honours, crafty hooker Rimbu showed plenty of class and spark in attack, but was also commended on his efforts in defence, with the 23-year-old unbreakable with 100 per cent efficiency.
While he is a new face in the UK, Rimbu is a hero back on his home turf in PNG, after he last year helped lead the Hunters to the Queensland Cup finals for the first time since their premiership victory in 2017.
While they fell short in the preliminary final to eventual premiers, Norths Devils, Rimbu was crowned the competition’s player of the year last season.
He enjoyed a breakout year in 2024, scoring 16 tries and recording an average of 31.5 tackles a game. Rimbu was also the Queensland Cup’s leader for dummy-half runs and made 91 tackle busts across the year.
He debuted with the Hunters in 2021, playing most of his early career as a bench utility, before finding his feet in the No.9 jersey at the back end of 2023.
After making his Super League debut in Round 1 of this year, he has been relegated to the bench in his last two games but is proving to be quite the impact player.
Rimbu is certainly one to watch for rugby league fans, especially as Papua New Guinea prepare for their 2028 inclusion in the NRL.
Where to for Parramatta from here? | 02:06
CLIVE CHURCHILL WINNER LEADING STACKED TEAM OF FORMER NRL STARS
Former Roosters premiership winning playmaker Luke Keary led a Catalans team full of ex-NRL stars to an 11-0 shutout of Leeds.
A field goal from Keary was the only thing separating the teams at half-time after a fiery battle in terrible conditions.
As the half ran out, Keary fired a perfectly judged field goal through the posts to give the home side a slender lead at the break.
Former Storm centre Reimis Smith scored a classy double for the Dragons in the second half to seal the win.
Smith’s first try came off a break from the rampaging Chris Satae before a cross-field kick from Theo Fages fell nicely for his second of the night.
Leeds’ best chance came in the first half with James McDonnell’s innocuous kick ahead was gathered by former Raiders playmaker Matt Frawley to score, but on the replay he was judged to be off-side.
Another former Storm player Tariq Sims nearly set up a try for Catalans with a half-break, before a pinpoint cross-field kick from Keary saw Riley Lumb barely beat Tommy Makinson to the ball, preventing a certain four-pointer.
As the game opened up late, Catalans and former Raiders star Nick Cotric recovered a speculative kick to the corner and looked set to feed Sims only for his pass to go agonisingly forward with the tryline begging.
But with the victory, Catalans and their Aussie contingent move up to ninth in the table, while Leeds remain sixth.
“Is Brown really worth that?!” | 02:41
ROUND 4 SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS
Hull FC 22 – 22 Leigh Leopards
St. Helens 10 – 20 Hull KR
Castleford Tigers 22 – 14 Salford Red Devils
Catalans Dragons 11 – 0 Leeds Rhinos
Wakefield Trinity 30 – 16 Warrington Wolves
Wigan Warriors 44 – 18 Huddersfield Giants
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