4 Lote Tuqiri
Clubs: Brisbane Broncos, Wests Tigers, NSW Waratahs
Country: Fiji, Australia
Height: 1.91m
Caps: 4 (Fiji, league), 9 (Australia, league), 67 (Australia, union)
Achievements: NRL title (2000), State of Origin (2001), World Cup runner-up (2003)
Tuqiri’s electric pace and strength made him a standout in either code. Starting in rugby league, he represented both Fiji and Australia before becoming a Wallaby in union.
Most memorably, he was Australia’s only try scorer in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final — a moment England fans won’t forget. While league was his first and final love, with his career ending on a high at South Sydney, his time with the Waratahs showed his quality across both formats.
3 Brad Thorn
Clubs: Brisbane Broncos, Crusaders
Country: Australia, New Zealand
Height: 1.91m
Caps: 3 (Australia, league), 59 (New Zealand, union)
Achievements: NRL title (1998,2000,2006), Rugby World Cup (2011), Heineken Cup (2012)
If there’s one word to describe Brad Thorn, it’s durability. He wasn’t just good at both codes — he was a colossus.
With 200 games for the Brisbane Broncos and major stints at powerhouses like Leinster and Crusaders in union, Thorn became the first player ever to win a Rugby World Cup, Super Rugby title, and Heineken Cup. A lock in union and second-row in league, his sheer physicality and professionalism set the benchmark for longevity and success in both games.
Like this:
Like Loading…