NRL 2021: Which player at your club under most pressure to perform?

No player will carry as much expectation into season 2021 as Mitchell Moses. Can he deliver for the Eels? We examine the players under the most pressure this year.

News Corp Australia NRL reporter Michael Carayannis takes a look at one player at your club who is under the most pressure heading into 2021.

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Mitch Moses (Parramatta Eels)

He wears the No. 7 and the expectation of leading the Eels side to a grand final. No doubting Moses’ is a class player but heading into a season where he could be a free agent, Moses needs to take his game to the next level. Has an option in his favour to remain at the Eels. Critics will be out in force if he can’t steer this side to glory.

Success at the Eels could hinge on how Mitch Moses performs. Picture: AAP

Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers)

Now heading into his ninth season in the top grade but is yet to play a finals match. That’s not good enough from your club’s marquee player. Has lost the safety net of having Benji Marshall beside him. Talk he may benefit from not running the side but is now experienced enough, with 148 games, to be the Tigers’ dominant playmaker.

David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)

With big pay days comes added scrutiny. There is no doubting Fifita’s talent but we have seen plenty of players switch clubs and not match the size of their contract. He arrives on the Gold Coast in a time of great optimism for the club. Will lead a young but very impressive Titans forward pack.

David Fifita is a massive signing for the Titans. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mitchell Pearce (Newcastle Knights)

Struggled to produce his best at the business end of last season, and now the spotlight is really on the Knights halfback. Off-field woes – his wedding was cancelled at the last-minute over a text message scandal – have led to questions about his role as club captain and given he’s off contract at season’s end will need a big year to secure his future.

Jai Arrow (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Has been purchased as a replacement for Sam Burgess even if the Englishman retired at the end of 2019. The Rabbitohs have the most potent backline in the competition but were overpowered at times in the middle of the field. They need Arrow to be that forward leader they have desperately missed since Burgess’ retirement.

Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders)

The Raiders season looked over when Hodgson limped from the field in round nine. They managed to regroup remarkably and finish one game short of a grand final. Hodgson needs to reclaim that spark and be a point of difference for the Raiders. There is no doubting his class, but at 31 it will be interesting to see if he has lost any of sharpness.

The Raiders rely on Josh Hodgson for their spark. Picture: Brett Costello

Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)

Much of the Roosters’ limp back end to the season was blamed on halfback Kyle Flanagan. Flanagan was quickly shown the door and Keary is set for this third halves partner in as many years. Keary escaped a bit of criticism despite being the senior member of the halves. He is their main man in attack and needs to direct this team around.

Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm)

Expectation rather than pressure will rest on the Storm’s No. 1 Has emerged as one of the game’s genuine superstars but is far from the finished product. His evolution will be the most exciting aspect ahead of the 2021 season. If he continues on this path he could challenge James Tedesco’s as the game’s best fullback.

Ryan Papenhuyzen has the ability to become the best fullback in the game. Picture: Getty Images

Addin Founa-Blake (New Zealand Warriors)

A big-money recruit who has the opportunity to shape the Warriors forward pack. He is on marquee money but arrives with a sketchy history. There is no doubt he has developed into one of the best front-rowers in the game but off the field he needs to have a similar positive influence given his standing.

Tom Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)

Hamstrings. Simple. It is the only reason why Trbojevic would even be mentioned on this list. There is no doubting he is one of the competition’s best players but injuries have hampered the 24-year-old and restricted him to just 19 games in two years. Has gone to Melbourne to speak with hamstring experts.

Tom Trbojevic has been held back by persistent hamstring injuries. Picture: Getty Images

Andrew McCullough (Brisbane Broncos)

The Broncos lacked everything which McCullough embodies last season. And for some reason they couldn’t loan him quick enough out to Newcastle. He thrived at the Knights before being struck down by a serious hamstring injury. Returns on big money and on the final year of his deal. If Brisbane are to improve at all, McCullough’s form will need to match his price tag.

Kyle Flanagan (Canterbury Bulldogs)

Received questionable treatment from the Roosters before being axed shortly after their elimination from the finals. Arrives at a totally different set up at Belmore. He is suddenly the senior halves partner and won’t have the likes of James Tedesco and Boyd Cordner for support. Will benefit from the attacking nature of Trent Barrett.

Corey Norman (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Playing for his career. Make no doubt about it. In the final year of his $800,000 contract and hasn’t come close to living up to that price tag. Fell out of favour last season and was eventually dumped from a struggling St George Illawarra side. Hasn’t been able to find any real consistency throughout his career and he may not.

Valentine Holmes (North Queensland Cowboys)

A mixed first season with the Cowboys in his NRL return after spending time away trying to play in the NFL. The jury is also out on Holmes’ reliability as a fullback. Is one of the great finishers in the competition but for a million dollars he needs to be producing a lot more. Injuries did not help his return.

The Cowboys didn’t get bang for buck with Valentine Holmes last season. Picture: Getty Images

Matt Moylan (Cronulla Sharks)

You could almost cut and paste Norman’s blurb here, only needing to add the word hamstring. Moylan has battled injury in the past two years. Has already been told by Cronulla he is free to look elsewhere and they wouldn’t stand in his way of an immediate release. With no takers, it is a far cry from his form of 2016 when he made his NSW and Australia debut.

Jarome Luai (Penrith Panthers)

Nathan Cleary is the obvious choice but the Blues halfback can’t do what he does without his partner in crime. It is clear Luai has become the perfect foil for Cleary. His running game is an absolute threat and that attracts defenders, freeing Cleary up. His tendency to enjoy a bit of banter too will have him in the spotlight all game.