At the end of last year, Matt Timoko, Izack Tago and Gehamat Shibasaki all represented their respective countries in the Pacific Championships and Ashes series.
Four rounds into the 2026 season and they’ve all fallen out of favour at their respective NRL clubs.
That is not only the harsh reality of first grade rugby league can move, but also proof that, despite the narrative that talent will be spread too thinly by the introduction of the two expansion clubs, there’s plenty to go around.
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The situations for the three star centres are all different.
Gehamat Shibasaki, Matt Timoko and Izack Tago. Getty
Timoko is coming off a foot injury and Ricky Stuart believes sooner rather than later he will be back in the Raiders‘ best team, pushing Simi Sasagi back into the forwards.
Shibasaki started the season for the Broncos after a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him rocket into the Queensland and Australian teams, but he was a casualty of the reigning premiers’ slow start to the year and was axed after round two before getting a reprieve off the six-man bench on Friday night due to Grant Anderson’s leg injury.
He made the most of the forced opportunity too, scoring a late try to help his side to a win over the Dolphins in the Battle of Brisbane.
Tago’s situation is murkier – Ivan Cleary has spoken publicly about him having a disrupted pre-season due to things outside of his control, but the form of Tom Jenkins and Paul Alamoti across the first three rounds has raised questions about the Samoan international’s future at the club, even though Penrith are adamant he isn’t leaving.
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There’s no doubt in the world that all three are first grade standard players and would walk into a lot of other NRL teams, but right now find themselves on the backburner.
Another high-profile player who has fallen out of favour is Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri, who played in the side’s Las Vegas season opener before being dropped.
His situation feels a little more volatile, with rumours continuing to swirl about his future at Belmore after being told his services wouldn’t be required after 2027.
Bronson Xerri is on the outer at Canterbury. Getty
Those four players – who all play the same position – are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the depth of talent spread across the NRL and proves there are diamonds in the rough ahead of the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs‘ arrivals over the next two years.
Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki has played three NRL games this year and looked more than up to the task, but is often surplus to requirements at full-strength with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad ahead of him in the pecking order in Auckland.
Tuaupiki is one of many second-choice fullbacks across the competition who have plenty of first grade experience, with Dragons speedster Tyrell Sloan another one who is often placed on the back-burner .
Two years ago, Alofiana Khan-Pereira was the league’s leading try-scorer but fell out of favour at the Titans and lost confidence under coach Des Hasler.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira left the Titans at the end of 2025. Getty
One of the game’s quickest players has since moved to the Warriors, but has been unable to crack into the unbeaten side ahead of experienced wing duo Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the first month of the season.
Kalani Going arrived at the Panthers in the pre-season after taking NSW Cup Player of the Year honours, but can’t get a spot in the first grade lineup with some quality back-rowers ahead of him in the form of Liam Martin, Luke Garner and Scott Sorensen.
Three experienced forwards – Jack de Belin, Matt Lodge and Nathan Brown – have all dropped out of their respective sides, while the likes of Wiremu Greig, Shaq Mitchell, Peter Hola and Tom Ale all have plenty of NRL games under their belts.
Young halves in Manly’s Joey Walsh and St George Illawarra’s Lyhkan King-Togia have their paths blocked by more experienced options right now, but could easily be back in the top grade soon as pressure mounts on both clubs.
Joey Walsh is stuck behind Luke Brooks. NRL Imagery
Owen Pattie put his name up in lights last year for Canberra and showed his undeniable potential at hooker, but the signing of Jayden Brailey has forced the youngster back to reserve grade for the time being as he continues to hone his craft.
Another young hooker, Benaiah Ioelu, represented Samoa just a few months ago and started the season in the No.9 jersey for the Roosters, but has been dropped back due to the return of NSW Blues star Reece Robson from a hand injury.
Finau Latu, De La Salle Va’a, Ben Te Kura and Kaiden Lahrs are some of the NRL’s most promising young forwards who are pushing for spots in their respective teams.
Then there’s a few forgotten men still featuring in lower grades – most notably Matt Dufty, who signed with the Rabbitohs’ NSW Cup team earlier this year.
Matt Dufty in action against the Dragons in the Charity Shield. NRL Images
Dufty was an attacking weapon during his time with the Dragons before moving over to the Super League, but is back home in Australia and is doing his favours of a surprise NRL return no harm with some blistering early performances at Souths.
Moses Mbye and Anthony Milford – former State of Origin players – are plying their trade in the halves for reserve grade outfits Ipswich Jets and Souths Logan Magpies and could still feasibly offer something at first grade level in their early-30s.
Speaking of forgotten men, Karl Oloapu is back on the field with Redcliffe after a career-threatening neck injury as he fights his way back towards his dream.
The former Bulldogs prodigy has only just turned 21 and a potential return to the NRL – whether it be with the Dolphins or another side – would be an incredible story.
Karl Oloapu. NRL Imagery
Another man back from the wilderness is outside back Patrick Herbert, who spent two years away from rugby league but signed a top 30 contract with the Wests Tigers and now looks poised for an unlikely return at some stage this season.
The truth is while the Bears and Chiefs may struggle to attract top-line talent for their inaugural seasons in 2027 and 2028 respectively, there are still hungry players out there waiting in the wings for an opportunity – whether at the start of their career or the end.
You only need to look at how the Dolphins unearthed players like Kurt Donoghoe, Jack Bostock, Trai Fuller or Oryn Keeley into regular first graders for the blueprint.
Even away from the NRL’s 17th club, other teams have managed to find players from the scrapheap and sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes.
Jackson Ford. Getty
Jackson Ford was a discard from the Dragons and is now leading the Dally M Medal leaderboard, while teammate Tanah Boyd was written off at the Titans and is now shooting the lights out at halfback for the Warriors.
Rugby league is firing on all cylinders and it’s never too late – or too early – for a player to turn things around and make it to the big leagues.
Best team not playing NRL in round four
1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Tommy Talau 3. Izack Tago 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Moses Mbye 7. Joey Walsh 8. Nathan Brown 9. Owen Pattie 10. Matt Lodge 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Kalani Going 13. Jack de Belin 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Tom Ale 16. Matt Timoko 17. Bronson Xerri 18. Kaiden Lahrs 19. Matt Dufty
Jack de Belin. Getty
Other notable NSW Cup players: Patrick Herbert, Blake Wilson, Clayton Faulalo, Junior Pauga, Zach Dockar-Clay, De La Salle Va’a, Finau Latu, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Justin Matamua, James Schiller, Peter Hola, Tyrell Sloan, Lyhkan King-Togia, Jesse McLean, Jack Cole, Toni Mataele, Ronald Volkman, Edward Kosi, Chevy Stewart, Mawene Hiroti, Sione Finau, Jayden Berrell
Other notable QLD Cup players: Kane Bradley, Paul Turner, Blake Mozer, Jaxson Paulo, Karl Oloapu, Hayze Perham, Jesse Arthars, Anthony Milford, Tom Duffy, Dean Ieremia, Tony Francis, Viliami Vailea, Wiremu Greig, Shaq Mitchell, Luke Sommerton, Bayley Sironen, Ben Te Kura, Tevita Naufahu, Peter Hola, Rob Derby