NRL NT 2024: How each club is shaping up heading into the season
Personnel changes, renewed rivalries and a thirst for premiership glory will set the tone when the NRL NT season kicks off season 2024. See how each club is shaping up.
Northern Territory
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The NRL NT is back and with it a promise of yet another massive season between the competition’s six clubs all eager to claim the 2024 premiership.
Northern Sharks made it two premierships in three seasons when they beat Litchfield in last year’s grand final.
But there’s been plenty of off-season moves across the competition from clubs to players that could shake up the result heading into 2024.
Round 1 is full of exciting match-ups which will set the tone for the season including a grand final rematch where the Bears will be out for revenge.
The NT News takes a look at how each of the NRL NT clubs are shaping up ahead of the season with new look squads.
Northern Sharks | Litchfield Bears | Darwin Brothers | Palmerston Raiders | Nightcliff Dragons | South Darwin Rabbitohs
Northern Sharks
The reigning premiers will be up for the fight again as they push for a third title in four years, but with some big outs know they have a challenge ahead.
The Sharks were dominant in the back end of the 2023 season conceding just 31 points from the eight games in Round 10 onwards, while scoring 420 points of their own.
That’s an average of 52.5 points scored and 3.875 points conceded per game over that period, painting a picture of a scary picture for opposition sides.
It’s in their attack where they will take a hit with halves Mitch Burke and Brent Crisp both out, while the hard running Clint Chettle and power forward Adam Hall are also likely outs.
Despite the outs there’s a strong core of players who have enjoyed success and know how to get the job done including Samuel Pearson, Tommy Gunn, Jayden Sneddon and Brody Bordina.
David Munro will be key in the centres as he takes on the captaincy role and it is defence which he has earmarked as a spot his side will find their success.
Defence carried them in 2023 such as in their 14-0 defeat of Litchfield in Round 13 in which they held the opposition up over the line six times, or the grand final where they again held back the Bears 40-4.
“We’re confident, but we know it will be a bit of a challenge having lost a few players and our coach PD Downes, but we have to keep going,” Munro said.
“We won the premiership last season, and this season we want to show ourselves as the best defensive side in the competition using that to win us games.
“We just need to find that defensive mongrel, in rugby league defence is attitude and that’s what we have to get right, because with the likes of Burke out we’ve lost a lot of attack.”
There’s also been a change at coach with PD Downes making way after an incredibly successful few years for former Sharks player Nigel Doyle.
“I played in a grand final for the Sharks in 2000 so it’s been a while since I was at the club, but it’s good to be back in the fold,” he said.
“We’re missing about six players from the premiership team, but we will see how many new players we will get, take it easy and build up through the season.
“As long as the players enjoy themselves and what they’re doing the club culture won’t change and we can build again and see what that brings.”
Litchfield Bears
The memory of last year’s grand final disappointment will be the driving force for the Litchfield Bears in 2024, in what should be another strong season for the club.
The young side started 2023 with so much promise going undefeated for their first seven matches, and they made the grand final on the back of that form.
However, a 40-4 loss was not the result they were looking for, and for a side that knows they can do better this will be an important season for the club to respond.
Reg Rose takes over as coach from Jake Barnes, and is eager to build on their success from last season, but also correct the errors that led to the heavy defeat.
“There’s a really good energy where a lot of blokes stuck around hurting from last year, so we’re using that and the success from our B-Grade as motivation,” Rose said.
“That hurt from losing a grand final is there, but we’re not dwelling on it as we’re on to the next job and though it will be in the back of our minds we will use it as motivation rather than a negative.
“As a side we’re looking really balanced with experienced players and those younger guys who came through last year, and I’m also really excited about our under-18s.
“Discipline is the big thing for us, it comes from having non negotiables and holding each other accountable and that’s got to be driven by the players.
Some of the older Bears have stepped away ahead of the season, but plenty of the side from last season have stuck around eager for revenge.
Chief among them is captain Trent Wedding who leads by example on the field and in training, with the likes of Matthew Woolmington, David Jacobson and Nahan Dixon around him.
Kahn Nelson and Ned Bush will be two under-18s to keep an eye out for based on their performances in 2023, while Riley Reid will return to the side.
“Preseason has been good, there’s been a change up with a new coach and different players coming in and out, but the feeling is good and the energy is up,” Wedding said.
“A few of the older boys hung up the boots, but we have a young core and plenty of younger guys still coming through the ranks.”
Darwin Brothers
Physicality has been the big focus for the Darwin Brothers in preseason as the side look to front up for what will be coach Leon Cleal’s last season.
The Brothers have always been a side to bring flair and attacking nous, which has often made up for them being undersized in comparison to opposition outfits.
However, this season a focus on physicality in both defence and attack will help them push to the top particularly as they’ve been the most consistent side against Sharks in recent years.
Then there’s the added incentive of winning for their coach, who has been with the outfit for seven years, including the 2020 premiership win when the majority of the side were under 22.
“There’s very good spirits in the club at the moment, lots of strong players in the group and I’ve told them this is my last year so this is it,” Cleal said.
“I was finished last year but we all just said one more and where I’m really happy is I will be leaving the club in a good spot and I will still be heavily involved.
“We’ve got a good core, for the past two years we’ve been a fraction away and have been the only side to consistently beat the Sharks so we know we have the ability, we just need to perform.
“This year it’s about being physical, we haven’t got massive size but we’re just making sure we’re fit physically to take them on and that’s what we’re after.”
The Brethren will start their season down their hookers with both Peter Nibs and Danny Warren injured, but there are juniors coming up willing to take up a position.
Connor Williams and Tame Tupou are among the young guns to look out for, having both played a part in the 2023 under-18s premiership as well as a couple of games in the men’s third place finish.
There’s also a strong leadership group of players including reigning Frank Johnson medallist Caleb Niki, captain Aaron Pollard, Jonas Niki, Isaac Sedan-Kurnoth and Jarrod Northam.
Niki had a massive 2023 season in the full back position topping the tries and points in the league, and plenty of eyes will be on him this season.
“The big challenge for Caleb is how does he come back from that season, he doesn’t want to play full back this year and instead wants to go into the forwards,” Cleal said.
“We’ve got a few new players coming in and a few under-18s, who both played a couple of games last year, will be in after training the house down.
“There’s also a couple of guys in the 18s this year that I’m looking forward to giving a run, as always we build around what we have and what’s coming through.”
Palmerston Raiders
An important season lies ahead for the Palmerston Raiders as they continue to build eager to get back to the top of the competition.
The Raiders won the 2022 premiership ending a decade of hurt, but with that also came the end of a generation of players who had finally overcome their Everest.
It left the side a little short on experience in 2023 and again in 2024, but with numbers coming through the junior ranks and another season for those who remained they can push for finals.
Older heads such as Shane Smith, Brad Hansen, Jack Walsh and Keegan Quakawoot are still in the squad eager to pass on their experience to the next generation, and help their club win again.
Quakawoot pointed out Beau Lothian as one of the younger players to watch for the season, and said he had the set the tone in training and was one of the club’s shining stars.
“Everyone has been getting stuck into preseason and putting in the hard yards and at the end of the day everyone is just trying to be competitive again,” Quakawoot said.
“The big dance is where we’re looking to be and if we can achieve that it’s down to coach Roach putting us through our strides in preseason.
“We have a bit of a change with old faces gone but a thing for us this year is about blooding our juniors with a strong group coming through building the club for the future.”
It’s a second season for head coach Daniel Roach, who led the side to a finals berth last year which included a win over eventual grand finalists Litchfield Bears.
In his first year in charge allowing players to gel as a team was a big target, and an obstacle for a side faced with so many injuries, departures and new blood.
Now the team, which has traditionally been a forwards focused side with speedy backs will look to overcome that same obstacle as it works on cementing its identity once more.
Their first match comes against the Nightcliff Dragons, a match they will fancy themselves for given last year’s results, but also one they know they need to get right to set up their season.
“The club is heading in a really positive direction with older guys that have stuck around helping our strong group of juniors,” Quakawoot said.
“We need to nail down the basics heading into Round 1, if we can get all the one percenters and build those early pillars we can build up into a competitive side by the end of the year.”
Nightcliff Dragons
Nightcliff have had their struggles with numbers in recent years, and have been out of finals for the past two seasons as a result.
The proud club may not be at the top at the moment, but there’s plenty of talent in their ranks from youngsters to proven seniors.
That talent includes at least three players who played in the recent Darwin Rugby Union grand final Zak Mott, Robbie Butcher and Trey Crowley.
Mott was named in the 2023 Team of the Year while Butcher was the Frank Johnson winner in both 2021 and 2022 setting a strong foundation for the club to build on.
The Dragons just need to get the numbers around them and with the expected return of club veterans David Tabuai and Timmy Muhammad they are on the right track.
Former Gold Coast Titans player Sam Irwin comes in as the coach alongside club legend Darren Manaway, and both are intent in restoring the club to its glory days.
“Preseason has been pretty good, as the weeks have rolled on we’ve had a lot of new faces and old faces rolling in which has been good,” Irwin said.
“Players like Robbie Butcher and Trey Crowley will be here coming off the rugby union grand final, a lot of our good players were in those last teams and they will be good for us this year.
“Getting the numbers in is most important, we struggled with that last year and it left the boys a bit disheartened, so getting them back and excited will lead to us having a good year.”
A key match will be the Chico Motlop Shield against South Darwin and a game both teams will be gunning for.
Nightcliff retained it last year despite an earlier loss to their rivals, and will hope to do so again in 2024 with plenty of time to build their depth before then.
There’s plenty of players coming through the ranks at age levels, with Jett Doyle a junior who’s headed down south on the back of his talent.
“We have a lot of good talent in our 16s and 18s coming through and that’s why we have to play well in the A-Grade to give them something to come up to,” Irwin said.
“We’ve got a lot of blokes from the army coming back such as David Tabuai and Timmy Muhammad, guys who are getting a bit older but still have a few good years in them.”
South Darwin Rabbitohs
South Darwin have taken some positive steps in the right direction in recent years as their playing base has improved, and their 60th year will be a big target for the side.
Last season they scored their first win in four years when they beat old rival Nightcliff 26-6 in Round 6, and though it was their only success it was a step in the right direction.
After the win player numbers were impacted and despite a courageous display in the Chico Motlop Shield they went without a win for the remainder.
Richard Hill has come in as coach replacing Willie May, who had a big impact in his two-year tenure, and will continue to drive the side towards success.
Hill comes off two seasons at the head of the Litchfield women’s side that got to the prelim final in 2023, and he’s set down the goal of making finals on his return to Souths.
“It’s a privilege to coach Souths in their 60th year, I played with them in their 50th so it’s honour to be back 10 years layer and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Hill said.
“I’ve given the club two challenges, to make finals as I’ve never missed it as a coach, and to win the Chico Motlop Shield back from Nightcliff, and the boys are keen and on board with these challenges.
“So coming from a strong team like Litchfield I’ve brought their standards to Souths and everyone has really lived up to the challenge and are really enjoying what we’re doing so far.
“It’s going to be a tough game starting against Brothers but we have a game plan and we’re going to come out firing so we can set up the season.”
Kieren Crowe and Dustin Briscoe will share captain duties for a season where being positive on and off the field is the goal.
Youth is also a strong spot for the side with the likes of Dallas Caulton being standouts in recent years, while the Rabbitohs under-18s made it to the 2023 grand final.
“We’re looking forward to our 60th year and we want to be competitive in every aspect on the field,” Crowe said.
“Vibes at training have been fantastic, everyone is willing to learn and do their job correctly, there’s plenty of positivity and we’ve made some realistic goals for the year.
“We want to be positive in every aspect on and off the field and build a culture and keep moving forward every week and every game day.”
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