NRL 2022: The players shaping as bolters and ready to impress in the preseason
The Broncos invested a huge sum in this rookie, and while his debut was not too impressive, he’s tipped to make amends in 2022.
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The brutality of a gruelling pre season over the summer is the perfect audition for the players desperately vying for a chance to play in the NRL.
From journeymen to teen sensations and late bloomers, here are some of the players that are shaping as potential bolters in 2022.
Broncos – Brendan Piakura
Touted as one of the best young prospects in the game, Piakura was the subject of a bidding war earlier in the year which saw the teenager sign a $1.2 million contract before he had played a single game of NRL. Piakura made a short-lived debut in round 24 after he was sin-binned and subsequently suspended for two weeks following a dangerous tackle on Cronulla’s Braydon Trindall. Despite the anti-climatic debut, Piakura is a hard hitting, aggressive backrow forward tipped to be a mainstay in Brisbane’ pack, starting when he returns from suspension in round two against Canterbury.
Penrith – Kurt Falls
Falls was 24 before signing his first ever NRL deal. The playmaker has been promoted into the top-30 squad in 2022 and with Nathan Cleary racing the clock to be ready for round one after shoulder surgery, Falls shapes as an option in the halves. Falls, who played schoolboy footy alongside Cleary, faces competition from the likes of Jaemon Salmon and new recruit Sean O’Sullivan. But in Falls’ favour is his deft short kicking game and ability to put players into space. Forward Lindsay Smith is another of Penrith’s highly regarded junior prospects and should push for a bench spot come round one.
Tigers – AJ Kepaoa
Kepaoa started the season on the wing and then played a single game at centre this year, where he held his own against veteran Dane Gagai. But an ACL injury in the same game against South Sydney cut his season short after just five games. With coach Michael Maguire’s other centre options Adam Doueihi and Tommy Talau also out with ACL injuries and set to miss a chunk of next season, Kepaoa is first in line for a starting spot alongside new recruit, Englishman Oliver Gildart. Kepaoa started his NRL career as a winger but David Nofoaluma and Ken Maumalo are the frontrunners to start on the edges.
Canterbury – Paul Alamoti
The teenage prodigy has silky hands, is light on his feet, fast and powerful. Turning 18 in January, it’s unlikely Bulldogs fans will get a taste of Alamoti to start the season. But given his potential, the explosive Alamoti will surely push the likes of Aaron Schoupp, Brent Naden and Braidon Burns for a centre spot as the season goes on.
After a year of no football due to Covid disruptions, Alamoti put on a masterclass against the Roosters in a SG Ball match in February. Roosters supremo Nick Politis, who was in the stands, was so impressed he went out of his way to introduce himself to the impressive youngster.
Newcastle – Bailey Hodgson
The 19-year-old has already played top flight rugby league having made his debut for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League just days after his 18th birthday. Like his uncle, Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson, Bailey is known for his game awareness. The back, who has plenty of speed and can break a tackle, could be in line for a crack at the fullback spot if coach Adam O’Brien opts to go with Kalyn Ponga in the halves.
An honourable mention goes to lightning fast Jacob Kiraz. The rising outside back was earmarked to push for a spot in 2021 but the 19-year-old was limited to nine NSW Cup matches due to Covid.
Titans – Aaron Booth
Stuck behind arguably the greatest player of all time in Cameron Smith, and then Brandon Smith and Harry Grant at the Storm, Booth, 26, has been limited to just six games in the three seasons spent with the Melbourne club. Now the hooker is a front runner to replace Mitch Rein, who is Parramatta bound, in Justin Holbrook’s starting side come round one. Booth, a solid defender known for his zippy runs out of dummy half, spent the bulk of the 2021 season developing his skill set for Storm feeder club Easts Tigers.
Rabbitohs – Isaiah Tass
The departures of Dane Gagai (Knights) and Braidon Burns (Bulldogs) have opened up the opportunity for newcomer Isaiah Tass to make a play for a spot in the centres. Previously contracted to the Bulldogs and Brisbane, Tass scored nine tries and kicked 45 goals in 15 games for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup this season. At 22, the athletic Tass is yet to make his NRL debut but coach Jason Demetriou is impressed with the back‘s skill set. Demetriou is also a fan of rising forward Davvy Moale, who played two games in 2021, and could be in line for more time on the bench next season.
Cowboys – Daejarn Asi
Having played 10 games over the last two seasons, Asi is tipped for a breakout year. Hailing from Christchurch in New Zealand, Asi can play at either five-eighth or in the outside backs. But with Chad Townsend and Tom Dearden likely to get first crack in the halves come round one, the 21-year old is likely to get his chance in the centres. Asi filled in for Valentine Holmes at fullback when on Origin duty but coach Todd Payten has the youngster earmarked as a future playmaking option at the club.
Dragons – Michael Molo
A man-of-the-match performance brimming with hard running, solid defence and even the winning try for the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup grand final against Wynnum Manly has earned Molo a train-and-trial contract with St George Illawarra over the summer. While the younger brother of fellow Dragons prop, Francis, is unlikely to earn an NRL debut in the opening half of the season, the 24-year-old prop bends the line, breaks tackles and has the punch the Dragons pack lacked at times in 2021. With two spots left in Anthony Griffin’s top-30 roster, Molo is primed to make the most of his opportunity.
Canberra – Trey Mooney
Once one of Parramatta’s brightest prospects, Mooney is now Canberra’s prized rising prop forward. Mooney, a NSWRL under-16s player of the year and under-16 and 18s NSW Blues representative, joined the ACT club in 2020 and helped lead the Raiders to victory in the 2021 SG Ball grand final. The former Australian Schoolboys star can play on an edge but is being groomed for a middle role under coach Ricky Stuart. While Mooney will have to fight hard to crack a spot in Stuart’s established pack, the powerful forward at just 19 would not look out of place in the NRL.
Cronulla – Royce Hunt
New coach Craig Fitzgibbon’s biggest selection headache will be the make-up of his spine but decisions will also have to be made in the pack. Forward Royce Hunt played two games, for a total of 25 minutes, before having to leave the bubble to be with his partner for the birth of their first child. But Hunt’s hard running from the bench could be the injection of energy Cronulla’s pack is searching for. Former Rooster Matt Ikuvalu’s impressive season of 14 tries, 18 linebreaks and 63 tackle busts from 15 games also has him in the frame to snare a spot in Cronulla’s established outside backs.
Manly – Ethan Bullemor
Des Hasler will go into next season with the luxury of close to an unchanged starting 13 but at least two spots on the Manly coach’s bench could be up for grabs. The arrival of Ethan Bullemor has the former Bronco facing a showdown with Toafofoa Sipley for a bunch spot. At Brisbane Bullemor found himself stuck behind the likes of Jordan Riki, TC Robati and Brendan Piakura. But with Curtis Sironen, Jack Gosiewski and Zac Saddler all departing the northern beaches, an opportunity has emerged for the 21-year-old to become a regular feature for the Sea Eagles.
Roosters – Kevin Naiqama
No pen has been put to paper just yet, but there is a strong tip that Naiqama could be on his way back to the NRL for one last stint before the 32-year-old hangs up the boots. While no one is suggesting Naiqama would be a walk up start in Trent Robinson’s NRL side, there is no doubt the centre, who won three straight titles with St Helens in the Super League, would bring crucial depth and experience into the Roosters roster. The Tricolours suffered through a season decimated with injury, including in the outside backs. Naiqama could be the perfect cover if Robinson were to suffer a similar fate with injuries in the outside backs.
Eels – Sean Russell
Parramatta played with such heart and grit against Penrith in week three of the finals that it is hard to see Brad Arthur making changes, other than those forced by injury and recruitment, to the side he is likely to name in round one. One of the biggest winners from Maika Sivo’s ACL injury, which will see him out until the mid-season, and Blake Ferguson’s switch to Japanese rugby will be Sean Russell. One wing spot is likely to go to Haze Dunster leaving Russell, along with Solomone Naiduki – who has been upgraded into the top 30 – to battle it out for a chance to bolt into the Eels starting side come round one.
Warriors – Aaron Pene
Another of the NRL’s late bloomers, Pene made his NRL debut at age 25 for the Melbourne Storm and played a total of 10 games. Now 26, the middle forward, who has had stints with Parramatta, Penrith and Central Queensland Capras in the Intrust Super Cup, has signed a two-year deal with the Warriors. Averaging 137 metres in the Queensland Cup, Pene is not only a depth signing for coach Nathan Brown but is set to challenge for a bench spot against the likes of Bunty Afoa and Ben Murdoch Masilla.
Storm – Josh King
Despite having already spent six seasons at Newcastle where King played 78 games, Melbourne’s general manager of football Frank Ponissi is convinced that the forward’s best years are yet to come. The 26-year-old has signed a two-year deal, and Ponissi expects the middle forward to push for a spot in Craig Bellamy’s top 17 over the preseason. With Jesse Bromwich, Christian Welch and Brandon Smith likely to be the starting forwards, King will use the upcoming preseason to push for a bench spot against the Wests Tigers in round one.
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