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There have been a host of British imports to the Australian game.

Some are instantly forgettable.

Round 20

Some, however, have left an inedible mark.

Honourable mentions go to John Bateman, Gareth Widdop, Elliott Whitehead, Martin Offiah, Jonathan Davies, Denis Betts, Garry Schofield, Lee Crooks and a host of others.

We narrowed down our best of British to a top 10. Our criteria were simple: on-field success, how they changed the teams they joined and how they were perceived by their teammates and rivals.

Here foxsports.com.au brings you the best imports from the United Kingdom.

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10. KEVIN WARD

With thighs as wide as the Spit Bridge, Ward arrived at Manly in 1987.

While his spell was short and sweet – only 15 games – it left a lasting impact.

He joined Manly and helped them go on a great run, winning nine from ten games in which he played.

Kevin Ward celebrates after Manly defeated Canberra in the 1987 Winfield Cup Source: News Corp Australia

Ward returned to England before the finals kicked off with the Sea Eagles having to get to the grand final without him.

But when the Sea Eagles asked him to come back for the clash with the Raiders, Ward jumped on the first plane and led the charge for Manly to beat Canberra 18-8.

9. JOSH HODGSON

He came out to Australia as a complete unknown. In fact, Australia’s first glimpse of Hodgson was probably a video of him running through a hotel door during the 2014 Four Nations.

Josh Hodgson runs past Jared Waerea-Hargreaves Source: Getty Images

Hodgson was playing for Hull KR, perennial strugglers, and he was nowhere near one of England’s best hookers.

But since some one-one-one sessions with Danny Buderus back in England and his arrival at Canberra he has been a revelation, leading the Raiders to their first grand final since 1994.

Hodgson has brought more Englishmen with him, first Elliott Whitehead and more recently Ryan Sutton, John Bateman and George Williams.

Ryan Sutton, Elliott Whitehead, Josh Hodgson, and John Bateman Source: News Corp Australia

He can hit hard, strip the ball with ease, and of any hooker in the NRL, perhaps only Cameron Smith has a better kicking game.

8. JOHN GRAY

Perhaps the most unorthodox of imports, Gray was playing rugby union sevens and county cricket, when he switched to rugby league with Wigan.

He was an instant success, and very quickly was catching the eye of Australian clubs.

John Gray is tackled by St George Source: News Limited

North Sydney brought him down under first, and the hooker’s round-the-corner goalkicking drew admirers instantly.

He remained in Australia for the rest of his career, moving to Manly, missing out on their 1978 grand final win due to suspension.

Gray returned to Norths and was named Dally M hooker of the year in 1982 before retiring the following season.

John Gray enjoys his first schooner since arriving in Australia Source: News Corp Australia

7. TOMMY BISHOP

Bishop went from captain of St Helens and England to the worst team in the competition in 1969.

Cronulla were terrible, having only just entered the competition.

The last great British halfback to thrive in Australia, Bishop took over as player-coach in 1970. He was a typical nippy halfback, always sniping, always scheming.

He led the Sharks on a rapid rise from whipping boys to grand finalists in 1973.

Tommy Bishop is tackled against Souths Source: News Corp Australia

They missed out on the minor premiership to Manly by a point.

They fell agonisingly close going down 10-7 to the Sea Eagles after Bishop sparked numerous brawls.

6. GARETH ELLIS

More hits than a jukebox and a devastating edge runner, Ellis was often flying the flag for the English on his own.

He was swimming against the tide by coming out to join the Wests Tigers in 2009.

Most Englishmen were happy to stay at home, but Ellis has always maintained he did it for the challenge not the money.

Gareth Ellis is tackled by Chris Sandow Source: News Limited

It’s emphasised by the fact that then Tigers coach Tim Sheens, who’s signed a few good players in his time, said: “In my time here, dollar-for-dollar, he’s been the best buy this club has had.”

The Tigers missed the finals in his first year, but year two and three were different.

Gareth Ellis tackled by the Roosters. Source: News Limited

They were knocked out in the preliminary final in 2010 and then fell to eventual runners-up, the Warriors the year after. Both games combined they missed out by three points.

Injuries curtailed his final season at the club, and he returned to England to sign with Hull FC. He’s still playing today and turns 39 next week.

5. ADRIAN MORLEY

“There’s no law saying how hard you can hit someone in defence, there’s nothing better than putting a great shot on and saying get some of that into you.”

If any quote summed up Adrian Morley, that’s it.

Possibly the nastiest bloke on the field, he remains one of the nicest off it.

Adrian Morley runs through the Newcastle defence Source: News Corp Australia

Morley came out to the Roosters and was an instant success, with everyone except the judiciary and the opponents he clobbered.

There’s a tale that people in the cheap seats at Roosters games clapped loudest whenever Morley ran the ball in or belted someone.

There’s another urban myth that Big Moz had a book where he wrote down the names of opponents who went after his teammates.

He took his time to find his feet, but when he did he was devastating.

The Roosters reached three grand finals in 2002, 2003 and 2004, winning one and losing the other two.

Adrian Morley and Ricky Stuart at the NRL judiciary. Source: News Corp Australia

Eventually his reputation preceded him and his run-ins with the judiciary took their toll and he was forced to leave the NRL.

4. JAMES GRAHAM

In a way, Graham encapsulates the struggles of his national side. Always the bridesmaid never the bride, he can lose his cool under pressure, but he’s also blessed with sublime skill and the ability to do it pretty and tough at the same time.

James Graham during his time with the Bulldogs Source: News Corp Australia

He came out to Canterbury in 2012, having not been signed by the incoming Des Hasler. Little did that matter, because he and Hasler clicked instantly. They helped the Dogs to two grand finals in the space of three years, with Graham’s playmaking ability round the ruck a key driver in Canterbury’s success and seeing him being named the 2014 prop of the year. He’s not been an angel by any means.

James Graham after the 2017 World Cup final loss Source: Getty Images

Calling Cameron Smith a “cheating c***” and his carnivorous outburst on Billy Slater are not his proudest moments. The move to the Dragons has seen his stock wane somewhat, but the fact that he mixed it with the best of the best and played 400 club games shows his quality and durability.

3. ELLERY HANLEY

They say that what mere mortals could do running straight forward, Hanley could do while going sideways.

He was part of the Wigan dynasty and a staple of the Great Britain team throughout the 1980s, and it was in 1988 that he first ventured out to Australia for one of three spells.

Ellery Hanley leaves Penrith in his wake Source: News Corp Australia

‘The Black Pearl’, as he was nicknamed, took Balmain on a barmy run of four straight wins scoring a try in each game to help them reach their first grand final in almost 30 years.

Then Terry Lamb whacked him hard and that was that, with Canterbury being crowned champions.

The next year he joined Western Suburbs, but even his arrival couldn’t push them into the finals.

Ellery Hanley is assisted from field during the 1988 grand final Source: News Corp Australia

Equally dazzling at lock, centre or with the No. 6 on his back, Hanley returned to Balmain in 1996 and 1997, enjoyed two more seasons with the Tigers, but neither year saw him quite replicate the success of 1988.

2. SAM BURGESS

Meets Russell Crowe in a caravan in Derbyshire, arrives in Australia, tears it up, brings his brothers win him, breaks cheekbone in grand final and plays on, you know the story.

Burgess’ tale gets better with age, and just last week he gave an interview saying how he nearly lost an eye.

South Sydney Rabbitohs English recruit Sam Burgess wipes away tears after talking with club co-owner Russell Crowe Source: News Limited

He arrived as a 20-year-old, and alongside Ellis, the only Englishman in the competition in 2010. He didn’t know the difference between Coogee and Caboolture, but he took to Australia like a duck to water. Bell-ringing hits, huge carries, and his ding-dong battles with Sonny Bill Williams and fellow import Graham deserved pay-per-view billing.

Sam Burgess and James Graham get up close and personal Source: News Limited

Sam Burgess during the 2014 NRL Grand Final Source: News Corp Australia

No doubt his success, and that of his brothers, inspired the crop of today and tomorrow to leave Super League and try their luck in the NRL.

The only blot on his copybook was moving to the dark side, and when he returned he never quite rediscovered the devastating form which led the Bunnies to that drought-breaking premiership and his Dally M lock of the year award.

1. MALCOLM REILLY

A lock, and a superbly-gifted one at that, Reilly was from tough stock.

He joined Manly from Castleford, playing 89 times and winning two grand finals. With the ability to kick, hit, and run with the ball, he was an instant success with the Sea Eagles.

Malcolm Reilly gets a pass away Source: News Corp Australia

A landmark signing by Ken Arthurson, Reilly helped them to glory in 1972 and 1973, although he withdrew from the latter after the aforementioned Tommy Bishop made it his mission to target him knowing just how dangerous an attacker his compatriot was.

He was named in Manly’s Dream Team to celebrate their 60th birthday, but he would come back to haunt his old club.

After coaching Great Britain, he took the Newcastle Knights job in 1995.

He was a sucker for fitness and it could be argued he was in better shape than half of his squad.

Newcastle Knights coach, Malcolm Reilly. Sport / Rugby League Source: News Corp Australia

It is testament to his legacy that there is a conditioning drill known as the ‘Malcolm’ in his honour.

As you know the rest is history, some magic from Andrew Johns and Newcastle are champions and Reilly’s feat – to win a premiership as a player and coach while being an import – are unlikely to ever be repeated for some time yet.