Six Super League players still without a club for 2023

Drew Darbyshire 14 Nov 2022 2:02 PM

Super League off-contract players News Images — (L-R) Matty Russell, Luke Gale and Samisoni Langi are all off-contract

There are still a number of players without a club for 2023 who were playing in Super League last season.

Matty Russell

Matty Russell Toulouse

The Scotland international is currently a free agent after leaving Toulouse following their relegation from Super League.

Russell was one of Toulouse’s top performers last season, scoring 13 tries in 21 appearances.

The 29-year-old winger has made more than 200 career appearances for Scotland, Wigan, Warrington, Toronto Wolfpack, Leigh and Toulouse. He has played in three World Cups.

Luke Gale

Gale is, arguably, the highest-profile player without a club for next season. The former Man of Steel departed Hull following the expiry of his contract at the end of last campaign.

The 34-year-old has a wealth of experience, having played more than 350 career games for Doncaster, Harlequins, Bradford, Castleford, Leeds and Hull.

Gale has won 10 caps for England, with his last international appearance coming in 2021.

The Leeds-born playmaker won the Challenge Cup with the Rhinos in 2020 and was named in the Super League Dream Team three years on the spin in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Samisoni Langi

Langi was among nine players to leave Catalans at the end of last season. He made 107 appearances for the Dragons across five seasons.

The 29-year-old centre has played in three World Cups – two for Tonga and one for France. Langi was born and raised in Australia but qualifies to play for Tonga via family heritage. He switched allegiance to France ahead of this year’s World Cup, qualifying for the nation through the residency rule.

Langi won the Challenge Cup with Catalans in 2018.

James Clare

Clare was one of six players to depart Castleford at the end of the 2022 season. He scored 54 tries in 108 appearances for his hometown club across two spells.

The 31-year-old winger has also enjoyed time at Bradford ad Leigh as well as loan deals at Doncaster, Halifax and York.

Clare has scored 91 tries in 158 career appearances.

Brad Takairangi

Brad Takairangi Hull KR

Takairangi headlined a list of 11 player departures from Hull KR at the end of 2022. He played 24 games for the Robins over two seasons.

The 33-year-old has played in three World Cups – one for New Zealand and two for the Cook Islands. He was born and raised in Australia and is of New Zealander and Cook Islander heritage.

Takairangi made almost 200 appearances int he NRL between 2010-20, playing for Sydney Roosters. Gold Coast Titans and Parramatta Eels.

Ryan Hampshire

Photo: Paul Currie/SWpix

Like Clare, Hampshire was among those six players to leave Castleford at the end of last season.

The 27-year-old utility back returned to the Tigers ahead of the 2022 campaign but was unlucky with injuries in his second spell at the Jungle, playing just five games last season.

Wakefield-born Hampshire has made more than 150 career appearances for Wigan, Leigh, Wakefield and Castleford.