As the NRL pre-season rolls on it’s the big singings that sell papers, drive traffic and capture the imagination of footy-starved fans dreaming of better times.
But each and every year there’s a score of players who arrive with far less fanfare only to make a name for themselves once the campaign begins and Canterbury’s Tom Amone is fixing to be one of them.
Trainspotters might recall Amone’s previous stint in the NRL, where he played 17 matches as a bench prop during stints with South Sydney and Wests Tigers from 2019 to 2021, but it’s alright if you don’t — Amone himself admits there wasn’t much to remember.
“I was kind of just happy to be there. There were players like Sam Burgess and John Sutton, I was just like a fan, I was so starstruck because I’d looked up to them when I was playing junior footy and I was just happy to be around them,” Amone said.
Amone played a handful of matches with the Tigers and Rabbitohs in his previous NRL stint. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer )
“My off-field stuff wasn’t good. I wasn’t preparing well for games, I was a bit overweight, I wasn’t in the best physical or mental state I could be in.”
Opportunities in the NRL dried up so Amone signed with English club Leigh, which was languishing in the second division at the time.
From there, everything changed. Leigh earned promotion back to Super League with an undefeated season and Amone began to play the best football of his life.
He returns to the NRL as one of the best props in England, with a berth in the competition’s team of the year in 2023 and a Challenge Cup final victory — Leigh’s first for over half a century — to his name.
“Everyone there felt like it was their last chance. We wanted to try and win a comp together before we all left but a team being promoted and then making the semi-finals twice in a row, that was a big deal. Normally teams that get promoted have to fight just to stay up,” Amone said.
“We just connected, we all believed in what we were trying to do. It was the best three years of my life, going there helped me grow as a player and a person and I’ll be grateful to Leigh forever for that.”
Under the coaching of Adrian Lam, who described Amone’s development with the Leopards as “phenomenal”, Amone averaged 32 tackles and 135 metres per game and shapes as a welcome addition to a Canterbury forward rotation that needs some extra muscle.
Returning to the NRL was always the goal for Amone, who is 13 kilograms lighter than he was during his time with the Tigers, and he’s hell bent on making the most of it.
“I want to make sure this is third time lucky, I don’t want to leave a stone unturned, I want to give it my best shot,” Amone said.
“Being in the 17 every week, that’s the best way to make a name for myself. I did that in England, but this is next level.
“Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau, the way they train, the way they go about their business, that’s why they’re the best.
“Seeing what they put themselves through, if I want to play NRL every week that’s what I need to do as well.
“I know it’ll be a challenge, I’m still trying to learn the system, which is hard but once I get it I’ll be sweet and the rest will be up to me.”
Four other underrated recruits
Hohepa Puru — Cronulla Sharks
Puru played two NRL matches with Canberra in 2023 but could not crack the top grade last season despite captaining the Raiders NSW Cup side at lock and earning a place in that competition’s team of the year.
The 22-year old will link with Cronulla, which already has his twin brother Niwhai on the books, in 2025 and seems a great fit in the Shire.
Puru is a skillful attacking player who looks to suit the Sharks open, flowing style perfectly and should push for a spot in the forward rotation.
Kai O’Donnell — North Queensland Cowboys
Like Amone, O’Donnell had a limited stint in the NRL, playing four matches with the Raiders in 2020, before finding himself at Leigh and playing some superb football during the Leopards’ unlikely rise.
“He’s a beast, everything he does he gives 110 per cent,” Amone said of his former teammate.
“He’s great at those effort areas that not many fans can see, so when you play with him you love it. He’s someone I want to be like.”
A sharp, attacking backrower — he scored four tries in a match against Hull last year — O’Donnell was enough of a star in Super League there was talk he might get picked for England before securing his return to Australia via North Queensland.
While he’s best suited to the edge, his ability to also cover the middle makes him a valuable weapon for Cowboys coach Todd Payten, especially following Heilum Luki’s season-ending knee injury.
Kulikefu Finefuiaki — The Dolphins
Finefuiaki is probably a little over-qualified to be on this list — he’s played 37 matches for North Queensland since his debut in 2023 — but the young backrower could push for “buy of the year” honours with the Dolphins.
Powerful, athletic and light on his feet, the 21-year-old shapes as an excellent addition to a Dolphins side that sorely needs an injection of youth in the forwards.
ABC NRL Daily podcast
Finefuiaki has impressed on spot duty for the Cowboys and looks ready to take the next step as an every-week NRL starter.
Jamie Humphreys — South Sydney Rabbitohs
The 22-year-old Humphreys made his NRL debut for Manly last season, scoring a try in a big win over Newcastle, but linked with South Sydney in an effort to land a consistent first-grade spot.
With the Rabbitohs searching for new faces at halfback and hooker, Humphreys should find himself in the mix for both spots.
Englishman Lewis Dodd is expected to get first crack at the scrumbase, but should injury or ill-form strike don’t be surprised to see Humphreys, a top junior talent who enjoyed a strong season in reserve grade last year, be given a chance.
