The young guns on the verge of NRL stardom

WHO are the young guns on the fast track to becoming household names? Paul Crawley has gone in search of the best young talent to look out for in 2016.

Tom Trbojevic

YOU might have heard of NRL Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell.

But what about the other young stars who are on the fast track to becoming household names.

While some have already made a statement in the top grade, others have only just appeared on the rugby league radar.

But have no doubt, in years to come every single one of them has the potential to make it big.

As we look ahead to the 2016 season, The Daily Telegraph’s PAUL CRAWLEY has gone in search of the best young talent to look out for in the new year.

TOM TRBOJEVIC — Sea Eagles

Before most of us could even pronounce Trbojevic’s surname, Matty Johns had declared this young Sea Eagle would be a future Kangaroo.

He makes scoring tries look effortless in any company, which is why we will be talking about him for the next decade.

Manly Sea Eagles rising star Tom Trbojevic.

The flying fullback has already scored eight tries in his nine NRL games (playing on the wing), and 41 tries from 31 games in under 20s.

Remember, he is still only 19.

LATRELL MITCHELL — Roosters

When league legends start referring to an 18-year-old as “the next Greg Inglis”, you know a superstar is about to emerge.

If you want further proof then get on Youtube and call up Latrell Mitchell’s name.

You’ll be blown away by the highlights so far.

With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gone to the Warriors, Trent Robinson has pencilled in Blake Ferguson to take over the Roosters’ No 1 jumper for the start of 2016.

But ultimately, when he is ready, Robinson is adamant Mitchell will own the jumper.

LACHLAN CROKER — Raiders

Asked recruitment guru Peter Mulholland about this 19-year-old nephew of Jason ‘Toots’ Croker, and he says straight: “Very good. Very, very good.”

No wonder Ricky Stuart has already locked him up at the Raiders until the end of 2017.

A five-eighth/half in the mould of Stuart’s old halves partner Laurie Daley, Croker will be ready for NRL this year.

But he might have his work cut out pushing his way into the NRL team, given the Raiders already have an outstanding selection of halves in Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer and Sam Williams.

Big and mature beyond his years, Croker possesses all the skills, and importantly, is strong defensively.

Lachlan Croker with Ken Nagas ahead of the Auckland Nines in New Zealand. pic Mark Evans

CURTIS SCOTT — Storm

He was the player of the tournament at the Australian Schoolboys carnival earlier this year and captained Cronulla’s SG Ball premiership side before stepping up to NYC.

Scott only just finished school at Endeavour Sports High and already has moved to Melbourne after the Storm beat 11 NRL clubs in the race for the 18-year-old’s signature.

Long and rangy, a bit like Josh Dugan, the talented centre will start out in the under 20s but chances are you’ll be reading more about him by the end of the 2016 NRL season.

LIAM KNIGHT — Sea Eagles

Born and bred in Alice Springs and spent some years on the NSW Central Coast, this young firebrand front-rower is a giant with a motor to match.

Rough and tumble is how they talk about him, with a build not unlike former Newcastle Test forward Steve Simpson.

The 20-year-old was Manly’s NYC player of the year and was at the centre of a bit of controversy late in the season.

The story goes the Roosters were trying to get their hands on him like they did previously with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, which forced the Sea Eagles’ to put out a media statement clarifying that Knight was contracted for 2016 and was going nowhere.

ASHLEY TAYLOR — Titans

The young Bronco has moved down to the Gold Coast to continue what is building towards a promising NRL future.

Obviously with Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford ahead of him in Brisbane, Wayne Bennett had little choice but to let him go.

But it is was still a good get for Gold Coast given Manly were also chasing Taylor and had plans to partner him in the halves with Daly Cherry-Evans.

The 20-year-old Junior Kangaroo has a wonderful kicking game, good organisational skills, is defensively sound and shows a good turn of speed.

His job now is to take on Tyrone Roberts and Luke Elgey for a starting spot in 2016.

Ash Taylor joined the Titans from the Broncos.

HAME SELE — Dragons

This 2014 Australian Schoolboy is ripping and tearing in pre-season training with the Dragons’ NRL squad.

Plays in the middle, powerfully built with a great work ethic.

Won’t create the hype of Mitchell or Trbojevic because he’s more bash and barge than brilliant.

But the 19-year-old has all the makings of developing into a top quality NRL forward.

Has some tough competition ahead of him at the Dragons but if the expectations on this bloke turn out to be even close to the mark he will make his presence felt at some stage in the very near future.

BRAD ABBEY — Bulldogs

All the talk in recent times about the battle for the Bulldogs’ No 1 jumper has centred on Will Hopoate v Brett Morris for 2016.

Well, put this boom Kiwi down as one to keep an eye on in the future.

Asked for a release from the Warriors after they signed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and the Bulldogs snapped Abbey up on a three-year deal when they got the jump on the Storm who were also chasing the 18-year-old.

Another youngster whose highlights are scattered all over the internet, Abbey has all the skills to make the grade, he just needs the opportunity.

BRENKO LEE — Raiders

Super talent who seems to have been around in the NYC at the Raiders forever, yet just turned 20 in October.

Big, strong and fast with that Matt Gidley flick pass, he has all the weapons and has been an absolute handful playing in the centres.

But he might have to settle for the wing in the meantime given Canberra has Jarrod Croker and Joey Leilua ahead of him.

Reportedly asked for a release this year to join the Bulldogs but the Raiders had no intention of letting him go.

Brenko Lee runs in to score a try during a Holden Cup match.

JAI ARROW — Broncos

Took out the best forward, players’ player and player of the year for the Broncos under 20s at this year’s presentation night.

Not bad to have on the resume when you are trying to break into an NRL team that just made the grand final _ and has a stack of depth and experience in the forwards.

Still, the talk is the hard working lock is being groomed to take over from Corey Parker if the veteran Test forward ever gets to the retirement age.

DANNY LEVI — Knights

Just turned 19 and already this ‘old fashioned hooker’ has played nine NRL games _ and there will be plenty more to come.

Former captain of Newcastle’s under 20s, he plays exceptionally strong, picks his moments well from dummy half and is viewed as a future leader of the club, if not his country.

The two-time Junior Kiwi has already extended his contract with the Knights until the end of 2018.

TE MAIRE MARTIN — Panthers

Okay, here’s another youngster being compared to an absolute superstar of the game.

But let’s tell you about this hotshot Penrith just pinched from Wests Tigers before we get into who he reminds us of.

Was an outstanding touch footy player in New Zealand before finishing his schooling at Keebra Park on the Gold Coast _ where his highlights reel was as breathtaking as another youngster who passed through the same school a decade before.

With a catch and pass second to none, Martin has all the skills and speed to burn.

Remind you of anyone?

Yes, you guessed it, Benji Marshall.

COEN HESS — Cowboys

The Mount Isa junior played first grade this year with the premiership winning Cowboys and he only turned 19 in August.

Weighs 110kg, stands at 190cm _ and the big back rower is still growing.

While there are plenty of good young forwards coming through the ranks, Hess is rated right up with the very best of them.

A Junior Kangaroo who was picked in the NYC team of the year and has already earned high praise from his coach Paul Green who declared him “deserving” of his rapid rise to the NRL.

Cowboys player Coen Hess. Picture: Zak Simmonds

GIDEON MOSBY — Cowboys

Was described by Cowboys under 20s coach Todd Payten as “a cross between Ben Barba, Matty Bowen and a couple of others”.

And at the time Payten was trying to keep a lid on the hype surrounded this young tryscoring sensation, who is also a 100m Queensland schoolboy sprint champion.

At just 18 he has racked up a phenomenal 39 tries in just 25 NYC games.

And he has a remarkable story to match his footballing potential, starting out in the Torres Strait where he grew up on Darnley Island, which has a population of 400 people, two stores, one school, no cars and no rugby league.

But one very promising speed machine.

JAYDEN NIKORIMA — Roosters

Bound for Bondi after the Broncos lost out in a bidding war for the exciting 19-year-old who also received strong interest from Melbourne.

Nikorima obviously didn’t want to spend next year biding his time behind Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford so he opted for the Roosters, where he is up against Jackson Hastings for the right to partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves.

But the fact Trent Robinson, Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy all gunned for his services is the best insight into the young dynamo’s super talent.

SCOTT DRINKWATER — Storm

Hasn’t even played a game of under 20s yet already is being viewed as the longterm replacement for Cooper Cronk.

The unknown teenager was the Australian Schoolboys halfback this year coming out of Terrigal High on the Central Coast.

And as soon as he finished his HSC studies, Craig Bellamy had Drinkwater boarded on a plane to start his new life.

He’s big for a halfback, fast and has the full bag of tricks.

While you probably won’t see him in the top grade any time soon given his lack of experience, with Cronk’s contract up at the end of 2016 you can only guess what Bellamy’s plans for Drinkwater will be.

History shows the Storm coach doesn’t get too many recruitment decisions wrong.

Ends

Originally published as The young guns on the verge of NRL stardom