NRL Locker Room: Seven biggest stories still to play out across the competition between now and November
James Tedesco’s loss of the NSW No.1 jersey has hurt his hopes of retaining the Kangaroos captaincy, leading to one of the biggest calls of Mal Meninga’s Test coaching career. DAVID RICCIO looks at the seven biggest stories still to play out this season.
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Here are seven key stories that will break between now and the end of the 2024 season.
1. Immortal Decision
And the 14th Immortal is …
Rugby league’s highest honour will be awarded for the first time since 2018 at the relaunched Hall of Fame ceremony on August 21.
Brett Kenny, Ron Coote, Glenn Lazarus, Allan Langer, Steve Rogers, Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith are all in the running to be inducted.
So too are several other champions including Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater.
If Peter V’landys thought saving the game during covid was tough, try choosing the next Immortal.
I’ll go with Fittler.
2. Expansion
Someone check on Billy Moore’s heart rate.
Get Gary Larson on speed dial. Find kids in red and black to climb the famous North Sydney Oval Fig Tree.
The editor requests are already being made in preparation for one of Australia’s sport’s great comeback stories.
It’s been 25-years of pain, suffering and disenchantment with the game, but maybe, just maybe, the Bears could be back.
The NRL will announce in coming months the game’s most significant growth plans since 1995 when they push the competition out to 20 teams.
This will most likely see the resurrection of the North Sydney Bears who are on the brink of aligning with Perth.
The Perth Bears will enter the competition in 2027 followed by an historic PNG franchise a year later.
The NRL will also announce a 20th team to come into the competition by 2030 with a second team in New Zealand favoured.
Hopeful bids are in the midst of compiling their submissions before the NRL finalise the entry of three new teams.
3. Eels clean-out
As a player, Jason Ryles didn’t mind butting heads. The former Test prop welcomed confrontation.
Just ask Bryce Gibbs.
Which is just perfect training for what he needs to do at Parramatta.
The new-era at the Eels under Ryles can’t start quick enough and there’s two big calls that must be made.
It has to begin with the retention of rising star Blaize Talagi. The rookie coach has made it clear to Talagi that he will be pivotal to the Eels fortunes in 2025 and beyond. The Dragons want him just as bad.
A decision from the 19-year-old is imminent.
Next is the release of at least one long-serving player within the current squad in order to create salary cap space to enter the market in 2026.
The future beyond 2024 at the Eels of Ryan Matterson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo and Clint Gutherson will come sharply into focus over the next three months.
4. Kangaroos captaincy
Mal Meninga is preparing for one of the biggest calls of his Test coaching career.
Who will captain the Kangaroos?
The elevation of Dylan Edwards over James Tedesco in the fullback position for NSW has suddenly put the latter’s hopes of continuing as captain of Australia under tremendous pressure.
Tedesco was the last captain to lead Australia, when beaten 30-nil by the Kiwis in the Pacific Championships last November.
Manly and Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans is no certainty to retain his Test jersey following the Maroons series loss.
It leads to the prospect of series-winning NSW captain Jake Trbojevic being a contender to lead his country.
Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo have also previously been vice-captains of Australia under Meninga.
My tip? Nathan Cleary, providing he’s fit, should take over the privileged role that many believe, is only a matter of time before it is his long-term.
5. Broncos or bust
How did it get to this?
From leading 24-8 in last year’s grand final to needing to shake a 58-year hoodoo in order to be back there again on grand final day this coming September.
Ahead of a crucial game against the Knights on Saturday night, the Broncos had lost six-straight games.
Not only is this the longest losing streak since a club record 13 losses in 2020-21, but no side has ever lost six games in a row and won the premiership
The 1966 Balmain team is the only side to have lost six straight and made the grand final.
Head coach Kevin Walters is contracted at the Broncos until the end of 2026. He is safe, for now.
6. Stefano and Sam
Two major contract negotiations will dominate the headlines in coming weeks and months.
The first significant decision will come from Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu, who has the Storm and Dolphins chasing his signature.
He has long been regarded as the future of the Wests Tigers, but sick of losing, he has opted to meet with rival clubs with an eye of taking his game elsewhere.
A decision could be made as early this week.
The other major contract story will be Roosters halfback Sam Walker. The Roosters are adamant Walker isn’t going anywhere and have suitably begun negotiations.
Yet with Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds set to retire at the end of 2025, the prospect of Walker returning to his home of Queensland will be the narrative until he puts pen to paper with the Chooks.
7. Penrith four-peat
Who stops them?
Seriously, who stops them?
Melbourne? The Roosters? Or perhaps, we’re about to watch a movie we’ve all watched on loop for the past three years.
How the Panthers have managed to climb to second on the NRL ladder without champion halfback Nathan Cleary for the past 10-weeks says everything about the juggernaut this club is.
They are perfectly positioned to achieve what no team has been able to do in 58-years – since the mighty St George which won 11 grand finals between 1956-1966 – by winning four consecutive titles.
The question remains, who stops them?
I’ll go the Roosters.
Originally published as NRL Locker Room: Seven biggest stories still to play out across the competition between now and November
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