The Front Row: Mike Colman’s tip for the NRL’s next big thing

ONE of the best things about being a lifelong rugby league supporter is getting to witness great players emerge as youngsters and then see their entire careers play out before your eyes.

Nick Cotric of the Raiders in Round 8 action against the Cowboys. Photo: AAP

ONE of the best things about being a lifelong rugby league supporter is getting to witness great players emerge as youngsters and then see their entire careers play out before your eyes.

You first hear their names, maybe read about them in the paper when a coach or senior player says something like: “We’ve got this kid running around in the juniors at the moment, and he could be something special.”

Then you see them play for the first time, realise they are indeed something special, and go on a journey with them for the next 10, 12 or 15 years.

Mostly your first sight of them in action is on TV, but sometimes if you’re really lucky you can be at the ground for the birth of a famous career.

I was there in 1978 when 18-year-old Peter Sterling played fullback for Parramatta against Manly in a semi-final replay.

It was a midweek game at the Sydney Cricket Ground and a mate and I happened to be without gainful employment at the time so we popped along.

Peter Sterling.

After the game everyone was talking about referee Greg Hartley’s inability to count to six when Manly had the ball, but I’ll always remember the sight of this little blonde-haired kid running around with the grown-ups.

It was the same with Brad Fittler who I saw run on for the first time in 1989. He was still at school when Penrith coach Ron Willey picked him for the semi-final against Canberra.

The other notable debuts that I’ll always remember seeing on TV are Geoff Toovey, standing on the sideline waiting for Bob Fulton to put him on for Manly against Great Britain in a midweek tour match, and Allan Langer (he wasn’t Alfie yet) running on in Origin.

Both times I thought it was a joke, that someone’s little brother had jumped the fence for a dare.

No-one was laughing a couple of hundred games later when any of those players finally hung up the boots. There were tears, more likely.

Not every young star tipped for stardom goes on to join the pantheon of the rugby league gods of course.

Front-rower Adam Ritson was spotted by no-less a judge than Arthur Beetson and played first-grade for the Sharks at 16. Complications following surgery on a brain cyst ended his career — and almost his life — before we ever saw how good he might become.

And remember Broncos winger Leon Bott? He was another schoolboy thrown into first grade, scoring three tries against St George and winning the club’s 2005 Rookie of The Year award.

He was injured early the next season and by the time he got back his spot was filled by that year’s Rookie of the Year — a kid named Darius Boyd.

Then there’s last year’s big noise, the Tigers’ teenage millionaire Moses Suli, now on his third club and a long way off Immortal status.

Which brings us to 2018, and plenty of talk about this season’s crop of youngsters.

So who do you tip to go on to become one of those players who you’ll tell your kids and grandkids, “I remember seeing him when he was just starting out …”

Payne Haas? Tevita Pangai Jnr maybe? And of course there would be plenty of well justified votes for Kalyn Ponga.

But here’s my prediction: Raiders winger Nick Cotric.

Nick Cotric tries to break away from the Cowboys’ defence in Round 8. Photo: AAP

I can’t believe this kid is still only 19. He was amazing last year and now he’s even better. He’s big, strong, fast and always ready to have a go. Every time he gets his hands on the ball he has the defence worried.

I reckon I haven’t seen a young player with as much potential since … well, since I saw a long-haired kid run out onto the SCG in a Parramatta jersey back in 1978.

Originally published as The Front Row: Mike Colman’s tip for the NRL’s next big thing