NRL 2021 teams: Every club’s roster breakdown heading into round one
Heading into round one many clubs are still on the lookout for talent to join their top 30, but who will clubs target to fill the gaps?
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He is Melbourne Storm’s newly signed teenager who at 19 is already on the verge of making history at the powerhouse NRL club.
Sunbury Tigers junior Dean Ieremia could be Melbourne Storm’s Round 1 bolter, winning promotion to the club’s top 30 squad just over a week before the NRL season opener at AAMI Park.
Following a strong pre-season, Ieremia has given coach Craig Bellamy a selection headache ahead of next Thursday’s blockbuster meeting with South Sydney.
Premiership player Brenko Lee (hamstring tightness) missed last weekend’s trial win over Newcastle, which meant recruit Reimis Smith played in the centres and Ieremia on the wing.
Ieremia scored a try to push forward his case for Round 1 and to have him on the brink of becoming only the fourth Victorian in club history to pull on a Storm jersey after Mahe Fonua (2012), Young Tonumaipea (2015) and Richard Kennar (2015).
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The Samoan-born Ieremia, who moved to Victoria as a 12-year-old via New Zealand, has come through the Victorian Thunderbolts junior ranks.
He said he was ‘speechless’ to be in the frame for Round 1 selection and wanted to prove to Victorian rugby league juniors that their dream can become a reality.
“A lot of Thunderbolts players move to Sydney and Brisbane for other opportunities, but me being here now shows there is a pathway and that we are strong in Victoria,” he said.
“It would definitely make me proud (to earn an NRL debut).
“I get messages on my Instagram saying things like ‘you’re really showing us youngsters there is a pathway to come to the Storm and there’s no need to move away.’”
Ieremia supported Storm growing up and idolised club legend Billy Slater, who he modelled his game on as a young fullback.
“Fullback was my main position (as a junior),” he said.
“I never played wing before, I only started learning that last year.
“That was a spot they said was available, so I decided to study and learn that position.
“(But) fullback was always my preferred position.
“Just the coming off of sweep lines and, I’m not going to lie, I like making breaks and scoring tries.”
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson now has another hooking option for round one after rising rake Freddy Lussick was elevated into the club’s top 30 roster.
Lussick was promoted from a development contract into the top squad after an impressive showing for the North Sydney Bears, the Roosters’ feeder side, which included a try assist against Canberra in a trial last weekend.
The Roosters have also extended Lussick’s time at Bondi until the end of season 2022.
Both of Robinson’s back-up hookers in Sam Verrills and Victory Radley are on the comeback trail from serious injuries and yet to be officially cleared to return, meaning Lussick will be available for selection as soon as round one.
The duo suffered season-ending ACL injuries in round seven last year against St George Illawarra.
Roosters skipper Jake Friend is off contract at the end season 2021, and if the veteran hooker decided not to play on his departure would open the door for Sam Verrills and Lussick to form a new hooking combination.
Elsewhere, the Melbourne Storm have added Dean Ieremia to their top 30.
Ieremia has been compared to the likes of Israel Folau for his athletic ability and speed. The back will become just the second born and raised Victorian to play for the Storm, after Mahe Fonua, when he finally makes his NRL debut.
“Dean only played the odd scrimmage game this year but he’s a player that we think in a couple of years could be something special,” football boss Frank Ponissi recently told The Daily Telegraph.
The Wests Tigers have also recruited another forward to their top 30 roster with Tom Amone added to the sqaud.
The former South Sydney prop has signed a one-year deal with the Concord club effective immediately.
With round one looming, we run our eye over every club’s roster and see how many spots are left and who might fill them.
NRL ROSTERS
BRONCOS (26 contracted players)
The Broncos are keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to their current 2021 roster. While four spots are available at Red Hill, the club wasn’t prepared to confirm specifics when contacted this week. It’s no secret the Broncos are keen on luring Cameron Smith to the club however, that approach is yet to reap rewards. Veterans Issac Luke and Albert Kelly are two key players pushing hard for a final spot on the roster following the departure of veteran hooker Andrew McCullough. Coach Kevin Walters’ son Billy Walters had been tipped to join Brisbane from Wests Tigers, but so far that hasn’t eventuated.
BULLDOGS (29 contracted players)
New coach Trent Barrett is close to finalising his first roster at the club. Outside back Christian Crichton is listed as part of the top 30 but will be unavailable in season 2021 after suffering an ACL injury in the pre-season. But Barrett has shored up his outside backs by bumping up wingers Tyrone Harding and Tuipulotu Katoa into the NRL squad.
New Bulldogs recruitment manager Peter Sharp didn‘t rule out the possibility of promoting a player internally into the top squad but said the club was in no hurry to fill the final spot.
“We still have a few months before we need to finalise the roster so we won‘t be rushing to add anyone yet. We want to make sure whoever is added into the roster is a quality player,” Sharp said.
— Fatima Kdouh
COWBOYS (30 players contracted)
North Queensland are one of the few NRL clubs to have already established their roster ahead of the 2021 season. Javid Bowen is back at his old club, having penned a one-year contract earlier this month while Lachlan Burr (Warriors) and Kane Bradley (Tigers) were the club’s only two other off-season signings. “We identified a need to add depth to our outside backs when looking at our last roster spot,” Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck said. “Javid really impressed us in his stint before Christmas and his attitude and professionalism since having surgery proved to us he deserves another chance in the NRL.”
— Chris Honnery
DRAGONS (28 players contracted)
The Dragons have two vacancies with rookie prop Jaiyden Hunt pushing to secure one of those spots after impressing in the pre-season. Hunt will have another chance to press his claims in the Charity Shield. The Dragons will look externally to fill the final spot and are in the market for a backrower after the season-ending injury to Cameron McInnes. “We are interested in signing another middle,” head of football Ben Haran said. “That’s an area we have identified we could strengthen and we remain on the look out.”
— Michael Carayannis
EELS (27 contracted players)
Veteran centre Michael Jennings, who is banned under the NRL‘s anti-doping rules, is still on the club’s list, with the Eels able to seek dispensation over this unavailability. Coach Brad Arthur has five specialist outside backs, excluding Jennings, making the centre/wing position an area of focus in finalising his roster.
KNIGHTS (29 players contracted)
Newcastle have one vacancy on their roster after young centre Brayden Musgrove recently clinched a two-year deal on the back of a super summer stint while on a train and trial contract. The Knights are not expected to fill the vacancy in the short-term with Mat Croker and Chris Randall the only non-top squad players to appear in this week’s trial against Melbourne – both are part of the club’s development squad and will be eligible to play first grade from Round 10 onwards.
— Nick Campton
PANTHERS (28 contracted players)
Updated Saturday: Young guns Izack Tago, J’maine Hopgood and Taylan May have been upgraded to the club’s Top 30 roster, to take the Panthers’ contracted players total to 28.
While they may be $5 TAB premiership favourites, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is still looking to buy a prop following that sudden departure of Zane Tetevano to the English Super League. Elsewhere. Elsewhere, playmaker Brendan Hands, who boasts strong utility value thanks to his ability to play in both the halves or at hooker, looks like the next cab off the rank.
— Nick Walshaw
RABBITOHS (30 contracted players)
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has already assembled a strong NRL squad of 30 players, with some notable additions including Jai Arrow, Benji Marshall and Josh Mansour. Most interest now looms around the make-up of the Bunnies outside backs, with a host of players like Braidon Burns, Tautau Moga and Jaxson Paulo pushing to earn their way into what shapes as the competition’s most dangerous backline. “The depth we’ve got, outstanding,” Queensland star Dane Gagai agreed. “It’s an exciting time at the club.”
RAIDERS (29 players contracted)
Canberra are just about fully loaded for 2021 with just one vacant place on their full-time roster. Seb Kris, Elijah Anderson and Albert Hopoate are the internal candidates to potentially snag the spot with the club expecting a clearer idea of who is in the lead after this weekend’s trial against the Roosters. Kris and Hopoate both have first grade experience while Anderson, a winger, is a former Queensland under-20s representative.
— Nick Campton
ROOSTERS (28 contracted players)
Roosters coach Trent Robinson already has 27 spots filled, with the most notable addition being teen sensation Joseph Suaalii. Some of the club’s youngsters to keep an eye on include halfback Ronald Volkman, who scored a sensational double in the club’s first trial against Wests Tigers, while forwards Ben Thomas and Naufahu Whyte also performed solidly. Biggest question remains who will partner Luke Keary in the halves.
Update: Freddy Lussick has been promoted into the top 30.
— Nick Walshaw
SEA EAGLES (29 contracted players)
Manase Fainu’s ban under the game’s no-fault stand down policy has opened up an opportunity for rising hooker Jack Birt. The 20-year-old was handed a train-and-trial contract over the pre-season and is expected to play in tomorrow’s trial match against the Wests Tigers. Manly Sea Eagles recruitment manager Scott Fulton believes Birt has what it takes to play at the NRL level in season 2021.
“It depends on how he goes in these trials and how he progresses with the NRL squad,” Fulton said. “He’s fast, extremely fast out of dummy half, has got a good work ethic in terms of defence and he can read the game well.”
— Fatima Kdouh
SHARKS (28 contracted players)
With 28 contracted players, the Sharks are primed to add a further two players to their roster, should they spot a weakness or are rocked by injury in the opening rounds of the season.
The Sharks’ squad size of 28 would be increased to 29 if Bronson Xerri is successful in his bid to beat an anti-doping violation.
One position the Sharks may look to strengthen is their backrow, with Wade Graham and Briton Nikora seemingly certain to start the season, but with only Teig Wilton or Siosifa Talakai (injured until round three) viewed as backrow cover options.
STORM (28 contracted players)
The reigning premiers currently have three vacancies remaining on their roster ahead of Saturday’s trial with Newcastle, in which both the first grade and reserves side will be playing in Albury. Keen to impress will be Victorian product Dean Ieremia, who has been named at wing for the first-grade side, and forward Trent Loiero. Three Sunshine Coast Falcons contracted players — centre Bessie Aufaga-To’omaga, hooker Tyson Smoothy and front-rower Patrice Siolo — will have starting roles in the reserves team and could be late bolters for a Storm contract. Hooker Aaron Booth is also in the contract frame.
Update: Dean Ieremia has been promoted into the top 30 squad.
— Nick Smart
TITANS (30 contracted players)
Gold Coast is another club to have sorted out their top 30 squad, with David Fifita’s cousin Jojo Fifita claiming the final top spot. The club is keeping a close eye on their younger and development squad players, including Jayden Campbell, Tristan Powell and Alofiana Khan-Pereira, and waiting until they get more experience in the Queensland Cup. The Titans have worked to shore up their outside back stocks this year while they’ve also shot down rumours of trying to sign Cameron Smith.
— Chris Honnery
WARRIORS (29 contracted players)
After initially finalising their top 30 roster, the Warriors have a spot to fill after a pec injury to Iliesa (Junior) Ratuva. Ratuva has been released from his 2021 deal but will be part of new coach Nathan Brown’s roster in season 2022.
“We’re back to 29 at the moment,” Warriors recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan said. “We’re not in a rush to fill that final spot. If the right player comes along we will do it, if the right player doesn’t come along we will go from within. With Karl Lawton going down with a ruptured achilles, hooker is probably an area we would look at.”
— Fatima Kdouh
WESTS TIGERS (28 contracted players)
The Tigers have more room to move than most with just 28 contracted players and plenty of cap room heading into their final trial of the season against Manly. Tyronne Roberts-Davis will be the only player outside the top squad to take the field while of the club’s development players Reece Hoffman and Kelma Tuilagi are tipped push for promotion through the year.
Update: The club has added Tom Amone to the NRL squad.
— Nick Campton
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