As the 2026 season approaches, we take a look at 5 of the most interesting signings made by Championship clubs
Jesse Soric (Halifax Panthers)
Kyle Eastmond’s men was the surprise package of the 2025 season. Despite off field financial trouble and a water tight playing budget the Panthers secured a 5th place finish.
Following on from their impressive campaign a number of experienced players have departed the club come the end of the 2025 season.
Pack leader and leading Championship forward Brandon Douglas has taken up a Super League opportunity with Bradford Bulls, whilst long serving Full-back James Woodburn-Hall and Stand-off Louis Joufret have also left the club making the move to French Rugby League.
After 10 seasons with Halifax, Cook Island international Adam Tangata also departs the Shay leaving sizable holes to fill within the squad.
One recruit who has been identified to fill the voids at the Panthers is Australian Half-back Jesse Soric.
The 20 year old Serbian international has made the move from Gold Coast Titans and has experience representing Serbia in the 2024 European Championships against Ukraine and Wales.
The young Half-back has experience coming through both the Titans and New Zealand Warriors youth systems.
The illusive Australian has built a reputation for playing off the cuff and will look to terrorise Championship defences taking on the line.
Soric has a wicked left boot to guide the Panthers around the field and will provide stiff competition for fellow Half-backs Myles Lawford and Jack Hansen.
Kieran Gill (Sheffield Eagles)
After a disappointing 2025 season full of disruption on and off the field, Sheffield’s 2026 squad looks transformed with an abundance of fresh faces walking through the door.
Controversy surrounded the club regarding the departure of former head coach Mark Aston, whilst an abundance of experienced players like Ben Jones-Bishop and Mitch Clark also departed the club mid season.
Despite the clubs struggles and 11th placed finish last term, the Eagles hierarchy have stayed loyal to head coach Craig Lingard allowing the former Batley boss to bring in multiple new signings to turn the clubs fortunes around.
One of those incoming players is prolific Championship Centre Kieran Gill.
The former Castleford, Newcastle and most recently Bradford man has scored 144 career tries in 188 first team appearances.
Still only 29 years old, the prolific try scoring Centre will add plenty of fire power and experience into the Eagles back line.
Try scoring was an issue for Sheffield last season registering the second least amount of points scored across the season only outscoring bottom of the table Hunslet.
Still in his prime Gill is no doubt one of the most eye catching signings ahead of the 2026 season and will be a big piece in the jigsaw, as Sheffield attempt to try and climb back up the Championship table.
Morea Morea (London Broncos)
The talk of the off season has no doubt been the activity at London Broncos.
Former NRL and Kangaroo’s star Darren Lockyer, alongside Australian business man Grant Wechsel have invested heavily into the club hoping to transform the Broncos into a force once more.
Following the take over of the club, the duo have announced many high profile arrivals including Jason Demetriou who was appointed as head coach for the 2026 season.
The former South Sydney Rabbitohs and current PNG head coach has secured the services of former NRL star Reegan Campbell-Gillard.
The powerful forward will captain the club in 2026 and arrives having made 9 appearances for Australia and over 250 in the NRL.
Demetriou has also secured the services of numerous PNG international stars including the explosive Full-back Morea Morea.
The 24 year-old was once a target of Leigh Leopards prior to making the move to the capital.
His blistering pace and the running threat could ignite the Championship once pitches firm up.
Morea Morea spent three seasons with the PNG Hunters before making the move to Central Queensland Capras in 2025.
He has also enjoyed success at international level lifting the 2025 pacific Bowl with the Kummels scoring in games against Fiji and the Cook Islands.
Morea Morea is no doubt one of the top talents arriving in the Championship ahead of 2026.
Ben Reynolds (Batley Bulldogs)
The Bulldogs enjoyed a tough 2025 campaign finishing second from bottom in the table. Recognised traditionally as a fortress, Mount Pleasant was a happy hunting ground last term for most clubs.
The 2022 Grand Finalists was in desperate need of a reset to get back to their high standards of previous years.
Former Featherstone Rovers and York Knights head coach James Ford was announced as the new man in charge to lead the Batley into 2026.
Fords appointment was a statement of intent with his proven experience of leading teams to regular play-off finishes in the Championship.
Perhaps his most shrewd signing for 2026 is his former Featherstone Half-Back Ben Reynolds.
The 31 year old had previously signed a 3 year deal with Featherstone, however due to financial troubles at the club, Reynolds opted to leave Post Office Road and link up with his former coach.
A Challenge Cup winner in 2023 with Leigh, Reynolds will bring a wealth of Super League experience to Batley in hope of a much improved 2026 campaign.
He currently has a career total of 1,615 points next to his name and a tally of 655 career goals in 232 senior appearances.
Ben will inject much needed quality and spark into the Batley squad ahead of the new season and add a new dimension to the Bulldogs attack.
Sam Cook (Newcastle Thunder)
The 2025 season was one to forget for the majority of people connected to Newcastle as the club failed to register a win all season.
Major structure changes was needed on and off the field in order for the club to survive.
In the off season the club did just that announcing a 3 year high performance pathway programme with Super League club York Knights and NRL giants Penrith Panthers.
Thunder have set a clear target of becoming a regular Championship contender at the top of the table and already have secured the services of many high profile players from the Championship, the latest being Fijian forward King Vuniyayawa.
The clubs new partnership with York has already been took full advantage of with Thunder bringing in Centres Jude Ferreira and Joe Law both from York. Australian forward Bailey Antrobus also arrives at Newcastle with the duo.
Perhaps the most exciting player so far secured for the 2026 season by Newcastle is Hooker Sam Cook.
The versatile Hooker can also play at Half-back or Loose-forward and made 34 appearances for York in their 2025 league leaders campaign.
A former product of the New Zealand Warriors junior system, Cook made his NRL debut in 2018 and will be a key figure in helping develop the local talent progressing through the ranks of Newcastle.
The new look Championship fixtures are based on teams performances last year, resulting in Newcastle being rewarded with a much more favourable fixture list compared to other play-off rivals.
With the calibre of players like Sam Cook being brought into the club, Newcastle will be a firm favourite to make the Championship play-offs.
