Cameron Murray hasn’t played rugby union in about a decade but the South Sydney Rabbitohs lock would “definitely” consider switching codes at some stage – but for now, the representative forward has unfinished business in the NRL.
Murray was a schoolboy sensation with the Newington College 1st XV, captaining that side to the premiership in 2015 as an inside centre. While the highly-rated talent had the chance to sign with the NSW Waratahs, an opportunity with the Rabbitohs proved too good to turn down.
After inking a deal with South Sydney, Murray went on to debut at NRL level against the Brisbane Broncos in 2017. Representative honours with New South Wales and Australia followed, as Murray quickly became a household name in rugby league.
Sacha’s Springbok moment
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When Eddie Jones rejoined the Wallabies in 2023, the coach name-dropped Murray as an NRL star who would “be pretty handy” in union. Murray added fuel to the fire in February that year, telling Nine News he might “contemplate and consider” a move down the line.
Murray made one appearance for the Rabbitohs this season after recovering from a long-term injury, with Souths failing to qualify for the finals. While Murray remains focused on helping Souths win a Grand Final, the chance to travel makes a potential rugby move appealing.
“Whether I’d make it or not, I’m not sure, but yeah later on, I definitely would,” Murray said on UNSCRIPTED by Josh Mansour.
“I’ve still got a lot I want to achieve in the NRL. I’m still chasing a Grand Final, so that’s definitely on the list and I definitely want to achieve that before even thinking about what’s next.
@unscriptedtheshow “Could you ever switch codes” 👀🏉 Cam opens up about the possibility of switching codes and sharing how he could see himself making the move to rugby union // #unscripted ? original sound – The Unscripted Show
“One of the big motivators for me is travel. I was pretty young when I got into the NRL and me and my partner probably had to sacrifice, and for good reason and we would do the same thing again, sacrifice a lot of the travelling, the gap years and all the stuff that our friends went on when they were young.
“I would do it again, I would do it again in a heartbeat what I did. Those sacrifices were part of who I was. But I see an opportunity to be able to make up some of that travel and seeing the other side of the world while also playing rugby union if it suits.
“I think it’s a way to pay back my partner and my kids for all the sacrifices that they’ve made for me up until this point… it would be pretty interesting and a pretty good time for them if we were able to do that.
“So yeah, potentially later on. I’m not sure.”
NRL stars have found success in rugby union, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii receiving Player of the Match honours on debut for the Wallabies after leaving the Sydney Roosters to take up a lucrative deal with Rugby Australia.
Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase is reportedly set for a move back to rugby union, with the 11-Test Wallaby set to leave the Tricolours after the 2026 NRL season. Nawaqanitawase finished the 2025 regular season as the top try-scorer, crossing for 24 four-pointers.
Sydney Morning Herald journalist Michael Chammas broke the story about six days ago, with ‘Marky Mark’ set to pursue an opportunity in either Japan or France. Nawaqanitawase could potentially line up for the Wallabies at the 2027 Rugby World Cup on Australian soil.
Another Roosters regular, Angus Crichton, was linked with a move to the Western Force in late 2023. Crichton, like Murray, played schoolboy rugby union in Sydney’s GPS 1st XV competition – helping Scots College win the premiership in 2013.
“There’s a common skillset across most of the positions in the NRL. Particularly the backrow with centre and then some of the outside backs, translates really well to a 12 or 13 in union,” Murray explained.
“Sometimes the freedom that playing in the backs in union gives you allows you to express your natural skillset.
“I think a lot of NRL players could do really well playing rugby but I think most of them could only play a handful of positions.”