In the 2019 NRL grand final against the Sydney Roosters, half the Canberra Raiders starting forward pack comprised English players: Josh Hodgson was hooker, and John Bateman and Elliott Whitehead were in the second row, while Ryan Sutton was part of the wider squad but didn’t play in the decider.
The following season, the number had grown to five with the recruitment of half-back George Williams.
In the loss against the Cowboys on the weekend, Whitehead was the only Englishman on the field in Raiders colours.