The NRL rookies looking to make their mark at each club in 2017
A NEW season brings a new batch of NRL rookies and after the example set by the class of 2016 the new boys have a hard act to follow. We check out a contender from each club.
THE likes of Ashley Taylor, Nathan Cleary, Suliasi Vunivalu and Cody Walker took the NRL by storm last season in one of the richest rookie classes in recent memory.
With the pre-season well and truly underway and a new batch of NRL careers just starting we’ve picked one rookie from each club who could shine in the years to come.
ROOSTERS
A blockbusting lock with a workrate that defies belief and belies his impact, Roosters fans should be excited about Nat Butcher. He was named at lock in the 2016 NYC team of the year and was the RLPA’s player of the year. His grand final performance, where he led the Roosters to an epic comeback victory over the highly favoured Panthers, was a measure of his quality. Butcher made his NRL debut in round 26 and is certain to feature in first grade far more regularly next year.
SEA EAGLES
The Sea Eagles have landed a good one in former Titan Brian Kelly, who joined the club just before the pre-season began on a three-year deal. A consistent standout in junior representative teams, Kelly is capable of playing all three positions in the outside backs and could be a rock in the Manly backline for seasons to come.
PANTHERS
The injury to Josh Mansour has thrown the door wide open in Penrith and flying outside back Dylan Edwards is one of the candidates to fill the void. After making his NRL debut earlier this season and going on to star with the Panthers under-20s side, Edwards is fleet of foot and a supreme attacking talent. While he is more suited to fullback, easing him into first grade on the wing could be the best way to bring him along slowly.
TITANS
A Queensland and Australian schoolboys representative, Tyronne Roberts-Davis stamped himself as a player of the future in 2016, producing a number of eye-catching performances in the Under 20s. A centre or winger with speed and strength, a dearth of outside backs on the Gold Coast could see Roberts-Davis make his NRL debut in 2017 should injury strike. Regardless, he’s a long-term prospect for the club and has another season in the Holden Cup in which to develop.
EELS
Alex Twal has been one of Parramatta’s best in the under-20s for the last couple of years with his workrate in attack standing out whenever he takes the field. A powerful runner, Twal will come into contention for a spot in the competitive forward pack and the junior representative standout will fit right in with his hardworking style.
RABBITOHS
The Eels could be ruing the loss of Tyrell Fuimaono before long. An athletically gifted backrower with the size to cut it in the pack and the mobility to operate in the centres, Fuimaono was named on the bench in the under-20s team of the year and will join the Rabbitohs in search of an opportunity. A spot on the bench seems a realistic goal for Fuimaono in 2017 as he looks to make his mark on the NRL.
WARRIORS
You know how this goes. The Warriors must have some kind of cloning facility hidden somewhere on the North Island because they just keep cranking out forwards with serious ability. Ofahiki Ogden is the latest out of the production line and while he might not have the size of some of the giants (at 192cm and 100kg he’s no featherweight either) he’s hard as you like and has terrific footwork. Capable of playing prop and secondrow, he’s in with a shot at landing a bench spot in 2017.
BULLDOGS
Will Kerr only came into the under-20s team late in the season but made an instant impact for the struggling Bulldogs, so much so that he will train with the NRL squad this off-season. A halfback with a strong running game and a physicality that defies his size, Kerr is still eligible for another two years of under-20s but could progress to the next level much sooner than expected should he continue to improve.
DRAGONS
If Josh Dugan makes a fulltime switch to the centres then things are about to go from zero to 100 real quick for Matt Dufty. One of the standouts in the St George Illawarra under-20s sides
in the last few years, Dufty is an elusive and speedy runner with a gift for support play. While his size may be an issue on kick returns, a good off-season could give him the boost he needs before what should be his maiden season in the NRL.
TIGERS
Esan Marsters is one of those few players who has everything he needs to make it in the top grade. He’s big, but mobile. He has the power and speed to hit a gap, but the deft hands to throw a cut-out pass if required. In short, he seems tailor-made to pack down in the secondrow for the Tigers for years to come. In 17 matches for the club’s under-20s side he notched 10 tries, 14 line breaks and seven try assists before graduating to the NSW Cup team. He’s re-signed until the end of 2018 and will be one to keep an eye on as soon as he cracks first grade.
BRONCOS
The improvement of Jamayne Isaako has been rapid in recent years with the former Shark progressing well as he accumulates more time in the under-20s. A robust outside back who can play fullback but is more suited to the centres, Isaako has represented the Junior Kiwis and could be in line for a first-grade debut should injuries strike.
KNIGHTS
A hardworking and durable forward, Luke Yates is the latest of a number of promising forwards to come through the Knights system in recent seasons. Yates was a standout during his time in the under-20s and made a strong transition to NSW Cup, captaining the side on several occasions last year. He’ll need to oust one of the Saifiti twins to earn significant game time in 2017 but should injuries strike he could be a terrific back-up option.
SHARKS
One of the contenders to replace retiring hooker Michael Ennis, clever dummy-half Jayden Brailey is one of the most promising up-and-coming players in the competition. The 2016 NYC player of the year is a former Australian Schoolboys representative and has spent an off-season training with the Cronulla NRL squad. He’ll battle with Manaia Cherrington and Daniel Mortimer for the hooking spot.
RAIDERS
A rangy, blockbusting centre who only turned 18 this week, Nick Cotric quickly emerged as Canberra’s best under-20s player in 2016 and secured a spot in the team of the year. Cotric will train with the top squad over the off-season and despite his age he could be in the frame for an NRL debut should injury strike. With his powerful carries and prodigious tackle-busting abilities, Cotric shapes as a special prospect for the Green Machine.
STORM
Melbourne churn out mobile, line-running secondrowers like nobody else and they have another fine prospect on their hands in Joe Stimson. After a season in the Queensland Cup following a strong under-20s career, Stimson has the size and the footwork to thrive in the Storm system and could become an option. He’s also one of the few secondrowers who can kick goals.
COWBOYS
The kids might be talking about Kalyn Ponga this and Kalyn Ponga that but the Cowboys have another red-hot outside back prospect on their hands. Gideon Gela-Mosby showed glimpses of his immense talents at the Auckland Nines in 2016 and scored a scarcely believable 39 tries in the under-20s in 2015. His progress slowed in 2016 and he was dropped from the Cowboys’ Holden Cup side midway through the season due to disciplinary reasons but he remains a player of great promise if he knuckles down this off-season.
Originally published as The NRL rookies looking to make their mark at each club in 2017