Matthew Johns picks the five players that will become the next NRL superstars
IGNORE the drama and focus on the talent. That’s MATTHEW JOHNS advice as he picks the five young players who will be the superstars of NRL in season 2020.
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What a week in rugby league.
Coaches attacking referees, coaches attacking the bunker, officials fining coaches, coaches accusing players of lying down, powerbrokers attacking officials!
I’ve stated previously that rugby league is far better off without the over use of technology.
That’s why I believed a system where a team is allowed two challenges a game was a better proposition. Less stoppages, more onus on the captains to challenge at the right times, less scrutiny on the referees.
I find the bunker an unnecessary expense. But the sky isn’t falling. In fact the standard of football is fantastic.
The reduction in interchange and shot clocks have contributed heavily. But much can be attributed to the number of brilliant youngsters that have entered our game in the last two years.
Never have young players had such a dominant effect.
The likes of the Trbojevic brothers, Jack Bird, Valentine Holmes, Te Maire Martin, Bryce Cartwright, Latrell Mitchell, Ash Taylor, Cameron Munster, Tepai Moeroa, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Mitchell Moses and so on, and so on.
Almost by the week, a new face arrives and impresses. Here I’m going to look to the future and give you the five names that will be the biggest superstars of the NRL in season 2020.
ANTHONY MILFORD
This the most obvious selection. He exploded on the scene a couple of seasons ago and has continued to improve at a dramatic rate.
Milford at the Raiders appeared essentially a runner of the football. When he arrived in Brisbane the shift to five-eighth from fullback, Milford first appeared slightly problematic.
You have to remember it took Darren Lockyer a full 18 months to master the same positional switch.
Yet a month into the move, Milford started to look comfortable, and soon after, started to dominate. His 2015 season was great, but his start to 2016 has been extraordinary.
While Milford still has the best running game of any half in the competition, his sleight of hand, pass selection and last tackle options now match his dazzling feet.
The reduction in interchange and speeding up of play has seen the big men look vulnerable defensively, and they never look more vulnerable as when Milford is carrying the football in their direction.
His dominance will last a long time.
MATT MOYLAN
In the next few years Matt Moylan will become NSW’s most important State of Origin player.
Everything about Moylan is classy. Remember one of his first ever NRL games, when he calmly slotted a sideline conversion against the Dogs to win the match with fulltime already blown?
He nailed the conversion and while everyone in the stadium was going nuts, he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
With a young Moylan pulling the strings the Panthers went within a game of the 2014 grand final. In 2015 they lost him midyear, and slumped so dramatically they went within a game of the wooden spoon.
In 2016 we again see the difference Moylan makes.
In the first few rounds the Panthers looked clunky in attack, but on his return against Parramatta, they pulled off a win and suddenly looked a completely different attacking threat.
The very best players make their teammates better, and that’s what Moylan does. In the next few years I guarantee Matt Moylan will lead Penrith to a premiership.
TOM TRBOJEVIC
Last week’s ankle injury against Newcastle came at a bad time for both Tom and Manly. In the last month Tom Trbojevic was just starting to do things in the NRL which has seen him labelled a future superstar from a young age.
Tom in 2016 has learnt the art of venturing infield at the right moment with devastating effect. His size, speed and footwork has terrorised middle defences.
Last week Manly got a glimpse into the future when Tom moved to fullback for the injured Brett Stewart.
Tom set up a try with a beautiful pass and then scored a vital try, exploding between two defenders, beating them with his long stride and power.
He left the field soon after with an ankle sprain which will see him sidelined for six to eighth weeks and the Sea Eagles will sorely miss his attacking threat.
Tom and his brother Jake will be fan favourites, with not just Manly supporters, for years to come. These two young men are as classy on and off the field.
JACK BIRD
I love Jack Bird. I love his confidence — he’s brash, has a winning swagger and has helped transform the Sharks into a great attacking team.
His recent comments that he finds playing in the centres “boring at times” suggests he thinks his future lies elsewhere positionally, but he’s the type of player that will have an impact whether it be in the 6, 1, 3 or 13.
I recently asked Mick Ennis about his young teammate
“He has a natural confidence,’’ he said. “Jack will sense when he has an opposition centre’s measure and he’ll demand our halves fire him the ball early. It doesn’t matter who the opposition centre is, Jack always feels like he’s going to get the best of him.’’
Bird’s a lot like Moylan in that their class and confidence rubs off on the whole team.
BRYCE CARTWRIGHT
Cartwright is an enormous talent. Size, good speed, great footwork and incredible sleight of hand.
Bryce Cartwright’s talent will see a change in the way back-rowers play in the modern game.
Cartwright is far too good to nail him to one side of the field and force him to play in a 10 metre corridor like other back-rowers.
The Panthers look their best when Bryce has the freedom to roam the field and pick and choose at opportunity.
In the Panthers’ victory over Brisbane, it was Cartwright’s skill and late offloads which unlocked the Broncos’ defence.
As I’ve stated previously, he is a must for State of Origin selection because he has the ability to produce moments which win series.
Bryce Cartwright will provide special moments for a long, long time to come.
Originally published as Matthew Johns picks the five players that will become the next NRL superstars
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