NRL backline rater: Souths, Penrith clearly on top but Joseph Suaalii debut can boost Roosters
No backline is perfect but Braith Anasta finds it hard to pinpoint a weakness in a side whose fleet-footed flyers have scored 23 of their 24 tries so far this season. Do you agree?
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With the Roosters seemingly poised to pull the trigger on Joseph Suaalii’s NRL debut, the teen sensation can help make one of the competition’s best backlines even better.
That’s the opinion of Fox League expert Braith Anasta, who believes Suaalii will be rolled out by Trent Robinson “in the next few weeks” in a move that will help keep the Tricolours among the NRL’s attacking elite.
Trent Robinson’s men already boast one of the NRL’s best backlines, but once rookie halfback Sam Walker gets acclimatised the timing could be perfect for the Tricolours to debut 17-year old Suaalii.
The Roosters clocked in at fifth in Anasta’s ranking of every NRL teams backline, even minus injured superstar Luke Keary, with South Sydney topping the list just ahead of Penrith.
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BRAITH’S BACKLINE RATINGS
1. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Alex Johnston
3. Dane Gagai
4. Campbell Graham
5. Josh Mansour
6. Cody Walker
7. Adam Reynolds
Others: Benji Marshall, Braidon Burns, Dean Hawkins, Jaxson Paulo, Steven Marsters, Taane Milne, Tautau Moga, Troy Dargan
Strengths: They’re fully loaded, from top to bottom.
“Alex Johnston is arguably the best finisher in the game, Dane Gagai is tough and consistent and he’s brought his Origin form to clubland,” Anasta said.
“Campbell Graham will only get better and Mansour keeps doing his job, he’s such a hard runner he’s like an extra forward. There’s nothing else left to say about their halves and their ability to create, Reynolds and Walker are at the absolute peak of their powers.
“Plus there’s Benji off the bench and plenty of other depth around the place.
Weaknesses: No backline is perfect but it’s hard to find a weakness here.
Key man: Anasta had Mitchell picked from the start of the season and he’s not going to change things now.
“Latrell Mitchell had a full pre-season and no drama like he had last year,” Anasta said.
“After I heard how well he was doing over the summer, he was my pick for the Dally M and Souths were my pick to win it and I haven’t changed on that. His metres are up, which shows where he’s at, and his quick hands on the edge are the best in the league - which is a big call when there’s guys like Tedesco and Papenhuyzen. He draws so much attention, he’s brilliant.”
2. PENRITH PANTHERS
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Charlie Staines
3. Paul Momirovski
4. Stephen Crichton
5. Brian To’o
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
Others: Brent Naden, Jaeman Salmon, Robert Jennings, Taylan May, Tyrone May, Matt Burton
Strengths: Apart from their individual talent, Penrith’s backline works together well as a group, which allows them to stay consistent even if there’s minor tweaks.
“Edwards has continued to improve, he’s a real workhorse for them when he’s fit,” Anasta said.
“Plus To’o and Crichton are already two of the most exciting players in the comp and they haven’t really reached their full potential yet. The sky is the limit.”
Weaknesses: If you were looking for a weakness, and there aren’t many, it might be the combination between Charlie Staines and Paul Momirovski.
“Now Staines is a tryscoring machine and Momirovski has been one of the buys of the season, but they only have a handful of games together,” Anasta said,
“It’s not even really a weakness, it’s just not as strong as some of their other parts.
Key man: There’s no way of splitting Cleary and Luai, who together form the beating heart of Penrith’s rise to the top.
“Luai and Cleary speak for themselves, there’s copious amounts of try assists and energy and leadership - they’re a great halves pairing,” Anasta said.
3. CANBERRA RAIDERS
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Curtis Scott
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. George Williams
Others: Seb Kris, Sam Williams, Caleb Aekins, Harley Smith-Shields, Matt Frawley, Matt Timoko, Semi Valemei, Xavier Savage
Strengths: Canberra’s backline was viewed as secondary to their monster forward pack before the season began, but the Raiders outside men have given a good account of themselves in 2021.
“I’m a big fan of their halves, I love the way they play,” Anasta said.
“Williams controls things well but he can also create, and Wighton is a powerful runner of the ball with an improving passing and kicking game.
“Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been fantastic again, Croker is back from injury and he brings his experience and I love watching Jordan Rapana. He’s a little bit unpredictable but you need that and he looks super fit this year.”
Weaknesses: It’s not so much related to their backline, but getting Williams and Wighton to gel with hooker Josh Hodgson is still an ongoing process for Ricky Stuart. Getting the balance right between the three star playmakers is what will set the Green Machine’s attack alight and the trio are still finding their way as a combination.
Key man: Wighton rightly gets many of the plaudits but the Raiders look a whole lot more dangerous when Williams is heavily involved, not the least of which because he frees up Wighton to play his natural game.
4. PARRAMATTA EELS
1. Clint Gutherson
2. Maika Sivo
3. Tom Opacic
4. Waqa Blake
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Dyan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
Others: Marata Niukore, Haze Dunster, Jordan Rankin, Michael Oldfield, Will Smith, Will Penisini
Strengths: Parramatta’s potency in attack starts right at the top.
“The back three is exceptional. They give them metres, energy and creativity, they’re so powerful,” Anasta said.
“The halves are getting better and will get better as the year goes on.”
Weaknesses: The Eels looked thin in the centres before the year kicked off but, instead, they’ve been surprisingly effective so far in 2021. “Before the season there was a question mark over the centres but Tom Opacic has been good and Niukore has been fantastic out there,” Anasta said.
“Waqa Blake probably hasn’t kicked on the way the Eels would have hoped, but he still has the ability to do so.”
Key man: The motor that makes Parramatta run in inspirational skipper Clint Gutherson. His energy, effort and skill always keep the Eels on the straight and narrow and provide plenty of direction for the rest of the side.
“Gutherson is the energiser bunny, he plays every play,” Anasta said.
5. SYDNEY ROOSTERS
1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Josh Morris
4. Joseph Manu
5. Brett Morris
6. Drew Hutchison
7. Sam Walker
Others: Luke Keary*, Adam Keighran, Billy Smith, Joseph Suaalii, Lachlan Lam, Matt Ikuvalu
Strengths: Man to man, the Roosters are one of the best sides around, but Anasta believes we’ll see a vastly different side in the weeks to come.
“I think Hutchinson stays with Walker until he finds his feet, then I believe they’ll slowly introduce Suaalii into the side on the wing, move Brett Morris to centre and Joseph Manu to five-eighth,” Anasta said.
“Either way, even if they stick with the team they have, they’re still one of the best backlines in the competition.”
Weaknesses: The main question for Roosters is when they’ll get some troops back, with the exception of Luke Keary who is out for the season.
“I believe they’ll make that change I’m talking about in the next few weeks, and if it doesn’t work they’ll bring Lachlan Lam back into the side when he’s healthy,” Anasta said.
“Trent Robinson will sort things out, it might just take a few games for him to work out exactly what he wants.”
Key man: With Keary out, James Tedesco becomes even more important for the Roosters, especially as a creator. He’s become more dominant as a playmaker in recent weeks and with Keary sidelined until 2022, look for that to continue as his combination with Sam Walker improves.
6. MELBOURNE STORM
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen
2. Reimis Smith
3. Brenko Lee
4. Justin Olam
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cameron Munster
7. Jahrome Hughes
Others: George Jennings, Cooper Johns, Dean Ieremia, Isaac Lumelume, Nicho Hynes, Ryley Jacks
Strengths: Melbourne are another team supported by their excellent spine.
“Their six, seven and one are all just brilliant, plus Josh Addo-Carr,” Anasta said.
“Munster, Papenhuyzen and Hughes can all create points individually or as a combination and it makes things so much easier for their outside men.”
Weaknesses: The cost of such a good spine is Melbourne can be a little skinny out wide. “Justin Olam, as great as he can be, has a few howlers in him sometimes and Smith is still finding his feet - but I’m confident he’ll get better as the season goes on,” Anasta said.
“There’s a little bit of fragility in their outside backs but their forwards and spine are so good it makes things easier.”
Key man: Ryan Papenhuyzen has fast become one of the best fullbacks in the NRL and his masterclass against Brisbane last week showed exactly why. With his speed, skill and support play, Papenhuyzen is constantly involved and almost always finds a way to impact the result.
7. ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
1. Matt Dufty
2. Cody Ramsey
3. Jack Bird
4. Zac Lomax
5. Mikaele Ravalawa
6. Corey Norman
7. Ben Hunt
Others: Adam Clune, Jayden Sullivan, Jordan Periera, Junior Amone, Mat Feagai, Max Feagai, Shaun Sauni-Esau, Tyrell Sloan
Strengths: This is one of the surprise packets.
“Their 1-7, in terms of star power and ability at their best, is really impressive,” Anasta said.
“They probably started the year a lot lower on my list but they’re improved a lot. Lomax is a star and Bird has brought that leadership, aggression and form we know he has.
“We’re yet to see the best of Ramsey, but we will see it, and Norman and Hunt are playing their best footy in years.”
Weaknesses: Hunt’s injury was a blow and the Dragons are yet to really prove themselves against one of the top sides in the competition.
“The only problem was at the start of the year we hadn’t seen their best, so we weren’t able to expect it,” Anasta said.
“As the season has progressed, they’ve gotten a lot better.”
Key man: Hunt commands the biggest pay packet but, when he’s sidelined, their most dangerous player is lightweight fullback Matt Dufty.
“Dufty is an absolute livewire. He’s so quick that any space he gets ends in a try and players like that don’t come along too often,” Anasta said.
8. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Hymel Hunt
3. Enari Tuala
4. Bradman Best
5. Edrick Lee
6. Kurt Mann
7. Mitchell Pearce
Others: Starford To’a, Bailey Hodgson, Dominic Young, Brayden Musgrove, Gehamat Shibasaki, Jacob Kiraz, Blake Green, Tex Hoy, Simi Sasagi, Phoenix Crossland, Dominic Young
Strengths: On paper, there’s a lot to like about the Knights, from top to bottom.
“Hymel Hunt does his job and Edrick Lee got better last year and ended up playing Origin,” Anasta said.
“Kalyn Ponga is an absolute superstar, of course, and Kurt Mann has improved since he was able to stay at five-eighth all the time. At their best, it’s a pretty nice line-up.”
Weaknesses: The problem for Newcastle is just keeping their best players on the park “They’ve just been decimated by injury, it’s hard to talk about them,” Anasta said.
“It’s hard to know what to expect from them now Pearce, Mann and Best are all injured but Ponga’s return helps.”
Key man: Anasta reserved his highest praise for Bradman Best, Newcastle’ blockbusting centre.
“I’m a massive, massive fan of Bradman Best - I think he’s got Origin and Test football written all over him and it’s only a matter of time,” Anasta said.
“He’s a superstar, he’s tough and well-built and strong defensively. He reminds me of Mal Meninga - I know that’s a big call, but he has that build and that power. I know he’s nowhere near that now, but he has that kind of physique. He’s a gamebreaker, and they miss him dearly.”
9. CRONULLA SHARKS
1. Will Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Josh Dugan
4. Jesse Ramien
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Shaun Johnson
7. Chad Townsend
Others: Connor Tracey, Matt Moylan, Mawene Hiroti, Braydon Trindall, Jackson Ferris, Jack A. Williams, Nene Macdonald, Luke Metcalf
Strengths: Cronulla’s backline is a little shy on big names outside of Dugan, Moylan and Johnson, but John Morris has done a great job in pulling together a good mix of speed, creativity and finishing ability. Will Kennedy has improved out of sight this year and Chad Townsend remains as consistent as ever while they wait for Shaun Johnson to return from his Achilles injury.
Weaknesses: The main concern for the Sharks isn’t so much the present as the future - Johnson and Moylan are both off contract and the club is unlikely to keep them both. With Kennedy playing too well to be moved, it’s likely only one of the two will get the chance to show their wares in first grade over the back half of the season.
Key man: Apart from his goalkicking nightmare against the Raiders in Round 2, Townsend has enjoyed an excellent season. With so much flash and skill around him, Townsend doesn’t need to do anything fancy - he just guides the team around the park and lets the rest of the side do their jobs.
10. BRISBANE BRONCOS
1. Jamayne Isaako
2. Xavier Coates
3. Herbie Farnworth
4. Kotoni Staggs
5. Tesi Niu
6. Anthony Milford
7. Tom Dearden
Others: Corey Oates, David Mead, Brodie Croft, Dale Copley, Richie Kennar, Tyson Gamble
Strengths: Brisbane might be among the competition’s stragglers but their backline is all about the future.
“Xavier Coates could play Origin for 10 years, he has the pedigree and he’s delivered on the promise even though he’s had limited opportunities,” Anasta said.
“He’s a standout, and Farnworth and Niu have plenty of upside. Staggs is close to the best attacking centre in the game.”
Weaknesses: So much has been written about Brisbane’s halves over the last few years, but their six and seven still aren’t producing enough for their outside men.
“Brisbane’s backs kind of have to make their own way because their halves haven’t given them much,” Anasta said.
“It hasn’t quite gelled together and some of the backline have to make their own luck. I have seen glimpses from Milford this year but it’s not enough, and he seems down on confidence.
Key man: One of the big improvers this year for Brisbane is fullback Jamayne Isaako and under Kevin Walters the New Zealand international can still get a whole lot better.
“Isaako was enormous the other week when Brisbane got their first win, he was their best player,” Anasta said.
“He has a lot of improvement in him at fullback because he hasn’t been there that long, they’ve moved him around a lot. He’s shown a lot of promise.”
11. GOLD COAST TITANS
1. AJ Brimson
2. Phillip Sami
3. Brian Kelly
4. Patrick Herbert
5. Corey Thompson
6. Ash Taylor
7. Jamal Fogarty
Others: Tanah Boyd, Alofiana Khan-Periera, Greg Marzhew, Jayden Campbell, Jonus Pearson, Tremain Spry, Anthony Don, Toby Sexton
Strengths: The Titans spine is built from the inside out. In AJ Brimson, they boast one of the best fullbacks in the competition and Ash Taylor and Jamal Fogarty have struck up a fine combination in the last 12 months.
Weaknesses: From 2-5, Gold Coast edge a little more towards solid than spectacular, although Brian Kelly is an underrated centre and in Anthony Don and Corey Thompson, they have two excellent finishers. Their forward pack ensures they can get by with players who just get the job done out wide.
Key man: Brimson’s speed and ability to break a game open make him the Titans’ most dangerous player. As his combination with Fogarty and Taylor continues to improve, he’ll become even more deadly with ball in hand.
12. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. David Fusitu’a
3. Peta Hiku
4. Euan Aitken
5. Ken Maumalo
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Chanel Harris-Tavita
Others: Sean O’Sullivan, Marcelo Montoya, Hayze Perham, Adam Pompey, Rocco Berry,
Strengths: New Zealand are well-rounded in the backs without excelling in any one area, apart from star fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
“The halves are solid without being anything too spectacular - Nikorima has been good and Harris-Tavita has a lot of ability but hasn’t quite taken his game to the next level yet,” Anasta said.
Weaknesses: We’ve not yet seen the best of New Zealand’s imposing wing duo in 2021. “Fusitu’a and Maumalo have tapered off a bit with their form - they’re really good wingers who make a lot of metres and are great finishers, but they’re not quite as explosive as they have been in the past,” Anasta said.
“Haiku and Aitken can be a little bit rocks or diamonds and need to be more consistent.”
Key man: What more can be written or said about Roger Tuivasa-Sheck? Any thought the Kiwi star would be running out the clock in his final year in rugby league has been thrown right out the window after his exceptional start to the season. “There’s no other word for it, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is just a gun,” Anasta said.
13. WESTS TIGERS
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Tommy Talau
4. James Roberts
5. Asu Kepaoa
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
Others: Joey Leilua, Billy Walters, Jock Madden, Moses Mbye, Reece Hoffman, William Kei, Zac Cini
Strengths: Daine Laurie has been an early contender for buy of the season and David Nofoaluma is one of the best wingers in the competition. Tommy Talau is a rising talent and there still might be something left of James Roberts - the speed machine has been reasonably solid in his first few matches as a Tiger.
Weaknesses: The Tigers are still one or two topline players short of really pushing the best backlines in the competition. Asu Kepaoa has struggled with his hands and paid the price by being dropped to reserve grade, but there’s no real established names to replace him and the ship may have sailed on Luke Brooks ever fulfilling his once limitless potential.
Key man: At last, the Tigers have landed on a spot for Adam Doueihi, who has thrived at five-eighth after stints at fullback and centre last year. Big and powerful, and blessed with a mighty boot, Doueihi will only get better as the year goes on and looks like a player the club can build around.
14. MANLY SEA EAGLES
1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Jason Saab
3. Dylan Walker
4. Moses Suli
5. Reuben Garrick
6. Kieran Foran
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
Others: Brad Parker, Ben Trbojevic, Christian Tuipulotu, Jorge Taufua, Morgan Harper, Tevita Funa, Tolutau Koula
Strengths: When you lay out Manly’s ideal backline, it’s not the worst going around.
“At their best, Manly’s backline doesn’t look all that bad - but so much has to go right for that backline to get on the park and even one player falling down makes things so much harder,” Anasta said.
They’re another team to whom injury has been unkind.
Weaknesses: When those injuries have struck, Manly just haven’t had the cattle to fill in the gaps and that overreliance on their star players has become a real problem.
“Without Trbojevic they’d probably be last on this list,” Anasta said.
“Garrick is all right but Saab has underdelivered so far and Walker is a good centre but he just never gets to play there.”
Key man: The pressure on Trbojevic on his return to first grade will be immense. Despite battling hamstring injuries for the better part of two years, Trbojevic will face expectations of saving Manly’s ailing season and while he’s definitely got the ability to improve the side, it remains to be seen if his body can hold up under the pressure.
15. CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
1. Corey Allan
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Will Hopoate
4. Nick Cotric
5. Tuipolotu Katoa
6. Lachlan Lewis
7. Kyle Flanagan
Others: Brandon Wakeham, Christian Crichton, Jake Averillo, Jayden Okunbor
Strengths: On paper, the Dogs don’t have the worst backline around - which is a strange thing to say about a team who didn’t score a point in three weeks.
“Allan and Cotric have both played Origin and Will Hopoate can still finish chances,” Anasta said.
“The problem for Canterbury isn’t so much a lack of talent, it’s a lack of opportunity.”
Weaknesses: It would take a better backline than Canterbury possess to cover up the rest of the inadequacies on the roster.
“The Bulldogs can be hamstrung by their forwards, who just aren’t giving them the time or space they need to really be effective,” Anasta said.
Key man: Kyle Flanagan is stuck in an inverse position to last year - where in 2020 he had plenty of talented teammates around him and wasn’t quite able to fit in, this time he’s the big man on campus with almost no support around him. The former Rooster is trying hard but hasn’t had the impact he would have liked thus far this year.
16. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
1. Valentine Holmes
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Justin O’Neill
4. Murray Taulagi
5. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
6. Scott Drinkwater
7. Ben Hampton
Others: Michael Morgan, Daejarn Asi, Jake Clifford, Javid Bowen, Kane Bradley, Michael Bell
Strengths: In terms of raw talent, the Cowboys have a few building blocks. Drinkwater can create in attack, Kyle Feldt and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow can finish and Valentine Holmes is reasonably solid. But it’s just not enough, especially given they’re playing behind a depleted forward pack.
Weaknesses: The problem for North Queensland is they just can’t seem to settle on their best backline.
“Scott Drinkwater has a lot of ability, we saw that in the Perth Nines, but he just hasn’t aimed up since. He has the ability but we’re yet to see it consistently,” Anasta said.
“Hampton has been around for a while but there’s a lot of work to be done and they haven’t found their best.
“Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow glides across the field but he’s light and he’s not a powerful, metre-eating winger or centre yet. He needs to put a bit of size on. To put it simply, they’re a bit of a mess.”
Key man: Holmes takes this status almost by default. Michael Morgan’s retirement, Jake Clifford’s exit to Newcastle and Drinkwater’s uncertain status means Holmes is one of the few backline players locked up long term. If North Queensland are to turn things around, they’ll need plenty more from the former Shark and they’ll need it soon.
Originally published as NRL backline rater: Souths, Penrith clearly on top but Joseph Suaalii debut can boost Roosters
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