NRL players in unfamiliar jerseys

Seeing your favourite player pull on a rival teams jersey seems just downright wrong and weird. It's not uncommon for many of the games great players to swap clubs in search for bigger and better opportunities, with some of them paying off, and others not so much. Like seeing Cooper Cronk in anything other than purple, or Canberra Raiders legend Ricky Stuart in a Bulldogs jersey. It just looked weird! We're here to take you on a trip down memory lane to look at some of the games longest-serving stars don the strangest jerseys. Cooper Cronk Let's start with the latest big one, Cooper Cronk joining the Sydney Roosters. Cronk made his debut for the Melbourne Storm in 2004 where he played 14 seasons in the purple jersey and forming a formidable combination with Cameron Smith and Billy Slater. After deciding to make the move to Sydney to be closer to his wife Tara Rushton, Cronk join the Roosters on a two-year deal. It took almost all of the 2018 season to get used to seeing the star halfback in red, white and blue, but the move paid off in the end as he helped the tricolours claim the 2018 premiership. [caption id="attachment_37051" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Cooper Cronk of the Roosters yells instructions during the 2018 NRL Grand Final match between the Melbourne Storm and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] Ricky Stuart It was a dark day for the Canberra Raiders faithful when their beloved son Ricky Stuart pulled on a Bulldogs jersey back in 1999. After 10 years representing the green machine, playing 203 games and winning three premierships with the club, Stuart made the move to Belmore. He only managed 40 games in two seasons due to a recurring knee injury as we never got fully used to seeing him and anything other than green. [caption id="attachment_37282" align="alignnone" width="401"] Ricky Stuart Canterbury Bulldogs[/caption] Jarryd Hayne After his dream of playing in the NFL didn't quite work out the way Jarryd Hayne wanted, he returned to the NRL and shocked many fans as he signed with the Gold Coast Titans over his old faithful club the Parramatta Eels. Making his debut for the Eels in 2006, Hayne played 176 games for the club, leading them to a Grand Final in 2009 and claiming the Dally M medal in the same year. Blue and Gold fans were left fuming when they saw one of their clubs greatest players run out in a Titans jersey in his return game in 2016. Not all was lost Parra fans, with Hayne returning home this season and looking to extend his stay at his original club. [caption id="attachment_30118" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Jarryd Hayne of the Titanslooks on during the round 25 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Cbus Super Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)[/caption] Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart Manly fans, look away now. Everyone's favourite second-row duo Anthony Watmough and Glenn Stewart were fan favourites at Brookvale Oval, both playing a part in the 2008 and 2011 premierships. At the end of 2014, Manly fans were dealt a double blow as both players announced their departure from the club. Watmough made his debut for Manly in 2003 and played 12 seasons for the Sea Eagles managing 278 games before making the move to Parramatta for the reminder of his career. Stewart draws the same parallels as Watmough, playing 12 seasons with the club since 2003, where he too switched to a rival club and wore a South Sydney jersey in 2015. The moves didn't pay off for both players, as fans never adjusted to life seeing these two Manly legends in different colours given all the duo had done for the northern beaches club. [caption id="attachment_20473" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: Anthony Watmough of the Eels shows his frustration during the round 19 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on July 17, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37283" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 21: Glenn Stewart of the Rabbitohs looks to offload during the round 24 NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on August 21, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)[/caption] Matty Johns During the '90s, there were two words on the Newcastle Knights' lips - the 'Johns Brothers'. Older brother Matthew Johns made his debut for the club in 1992 where he played 176 games for the club, winning the 1997 Grand Final in the Australia Rugby League competition during the Super League war. Salary cap dramas saw Johns leave Newcastle for a stint in the English Super League, before making a return in 2002 for the Cronulla Sharks. Johns didn't give fans much of an opportunity to get use to seeing him in Sharks colours as shoulder and neck injuries forced him into retirement. Though, one thing was for sure, seeing him in a Cronulla jersey was certainly not "better than lego". [caption id="attachment_37284" align="alignnone" width="579"] SYDNEY - July 21: Matt Johns #6 of the Sharks in action during the Round 19 NRL match between the Northern Eagles and the Cronulla Sharks held at Brookvale Oval, Sydney, Australia on July 21, 2002. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)[/caption] Petero Civoniceva If there was one bloke to pull off a team swap, it would be Petero Civoniceva. Debuting for the Brisbane Broncos in 1998, Civoniceva played 10 seasons for the club, claiming two premierships in 1998 and 2006, before leaving to join the team at the foot of the mountains. Civoniceva played 74 games for the Penrith Panthers between 2008 and 2011 before making a triumph return to his debut club the Broncos in 2012. Although it would have been hard seeing Civoniceva in different colours for a number of years, at least fans were able to see him retire in the jersey he first ran out in. [caption id="attachment_37285" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 09: Petero Civoniceva of the Panthers is put on report by referee Gavin Badger during the round five NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Canberra Raiders at Centrebet Stadium on April 9, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)[/caption] Luke Lewis Along with Civoniceva, only Luke Lewis could also pull off a jersey swap. The 35-year-old made his debut for the Penrith Panthers in 2001 and managed 208 games until 2012 when he made the swap to the shire. Adding on another 116 games until his retirement this year, Lewis became a fan favourite for both clubs, winning the 2003 premiership with the Panthers and then helping Cronulla win their maiden premiership in 2016. Retiring as one of the NRLs most loved good guys, Lewis was able to pull off both jerseys. [caption id="attachment_25414" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Luke Lewis of the Sharks in action during the round 18 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Remondis Stadium on July 12, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)[/caption] Benji Marshall In 2014, the Wests Tigers lost one of their favourite sons in Benji Marshall to rugby union of all things. But it's what he did upon his return to the NRL which most upset fans - signing with the St George Illawarra Dragons. After playing 10 seasons in orange and black, Marshall sought out a rugby union opportunity before joining the Red V mid-season in 2014, where he stayed until 2017. Many people were hoping he'd head back to the Tigers but again he stunned the rugby league world by signing with the Brisbane Broncos. Not only did Tigers fans have to get use to seeing him in a Dragons jersey, they now had to do the same with a Broncos jersey. But not the worry Tiger fans, all's well that ends well with Marshall returning home to Wests for the 2018 season, and signing on again for 2019. [caption id="attachment_23162" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Benji Marshall of the Dragons watches fans perform a haka for his 250th game after the round 20 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium on July 24, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37287" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Benji Marshall of the Broncos passes during the NRL Qualifying Final match between the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos at Allianz Stadium on September 8, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] Robbie Farah If things weren't bad enough for Wests Tigers fans, club legend Robbie Farah also left the club and made a move to South Sydney in 2017 in order to receive more game time. Debuting in 2003 for Wests, Farah played 247 games for the club in 14 seasons before changing his stripes. The brief experiment didn't work out the way Farah intended at Souths, as Tigers fans were ecstatic when Farah announced he was returning home in 2018. [caption id="attachment_28848" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 07: Robbie Farah of the Rabbitohs runs with the ball during the round six NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Pepper Stadium on April 7, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)[/caption] Steve Price Let's kick this thing home with our last throwback - Steve Price's move from Canterbury to the Warriors. The prop made his debut in 1994 for the blue and white team where he played 222 games for the club. (Richie Benaud would be proud). Many people questioned Price's decision to leave a successful Bulldogs club in 2005 to join the struggling Warriors side, who had their worst season in 2004 only winning six games and finishing second last. Price didn't seem to enjoy life after the Dogs at the Warriors as salary cap dramas and injuries plagued him, before in 2010 he was replaced as captain and ended up retiring immediately mid-season. [caption id="attachment_37286" align="alignnone" width="422"] AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 19: Steve Price of the Warriors looks to pass during the round six NRL match between the Warriors and the Sydney Roosters at Mt Smart Stadium on April 19, 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)[/caption] It took fans a while to become familiar with seeing Price in black jersey, along with many other players mentioned above. No one's sure in what the future holds, but there definitely will be some weird jersey combinations fans will need to get use to in the years to come.