<h2>10 NRL Stars Set to Join R360 – Four Pointer Summary:</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>- &nbsp; R360 rugby union competition officially launches in 2026 with 10 NRL stars reportedly signing contracts.</p> <p>- &nbsp; Melbourne Storm's Ryan Papenhuyzen and Parramatta's Zac Lomax among high-profile players linked to breakaway competition.</p> <p>- &nbsp; NRL faces unprecedented threat as R360 secures funding and offers massive salaries to poach rugby league talent.</p> <p>- &nbsp;South Sydney's promising talent Jye Gray and the Warriors fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are also rumoured to have signed on the dotted line.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NRL Stars Jump Ship to R360 Rugby Union Competition</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The rugby league landscape has been shaken to its core this week as R360 organisers confirmed to player agents that their revolutionary rugby union competition has secured the funding and player commitments needed for launch.</p> <p>The timing couldn't be more dramatic, with the announcement coming during the NRL's most celebrated week.</p> <p>Long-form contracts have already been distributed, with reports suggesting as many as 10 NRL players have committed to the inaugural season.</p> <p>Among the high-profile names linked to R360 are Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, Parramatta Eels winger Zac Lomax, and South Sydney's promising talent Jye Gray.</p> <p>The Storm organisation appears resigned to losing Papenhuyzen when his current deal expires at the end of next season.</p> <p>Warriors fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has also reportedly committed, with his contract timing aligning perfectly with R360's launch window.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Competition Format and Financial Backing Pose Serious NRL Threat</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>R360's inaugural season will feature eight overseas franchises competing from October to December 2026, before expanding to a 12-round format running April to September in 2027.</p> <p>The competition has secured funding for its first three seasons through 2028, enabling longer-term player contracts and substantial salary offers.</p> <p>What sets R360 apart from previous rugby union ventures is its financial muscle. The competition is backed by significant private investment and is prepared to offer massive salaries to lure top NRL talent away from rugby league.</p> <p>This financial firepower has transformed what ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys previously dismissed as a minor threat into a legitimate challenge.</p> <p>The Lomax situation presents particular complications, as he remains contracted to the Eels until 2028.</p> <p>Reports suggest he has already informed Parramatta of his intention to switch codes, raising questions about whether R360 will pay compensation fees for contracted players.</p> <p>If they're willing to buy out existing contracts, even marquee players like Nathan Cleary could potentially become targets.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Player Agents Drive R360 Recruitment Push</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Key player agents, including Clinton Schifcofske who represents Papenhuyzen, Lomax, and Gray, have been instrumental in facilitating discussions between R360 and potential recruits.</p> <p>Other NRL stars including Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Will Kennedy have also been linked to ongoing negotiations.</p> <p>R360 founder and former England international Mike Tindall has maintained aggressive timelines, with organisers demanding player contracts be finalised within weeks to maintain momentum ahead of the 2026 launch.</p> <p>The threat extends beyond rugby league, with rugby union also facing potential disruption as many R360 recruits are expected to come from existing union ranks, fundamentally reshaping both codes.</p> <p>For NRL fans and betting markets, R360 represents an unprecedented challenge to the competition's star power. The breakaway competition hasn't merely fired a warning shot at rugby league's dominance - it has launched a full-scale assault on the sport's premier talent.</p> <p>This news comes on the eve of the NRL’s Grand Final, a game in which Ryan Papenhuyzen will run out in. Can he block out the noise and help Melbourne win the premiership? Check out the odds for the 2025 NRL Grand Final below.</p>