NRL 2023: Key position battles and best 17 at every club
After having their forward stocks pilfered by the Dolphins, the Storm have spots up for grabs. But who will Craig Bellamy hand a starting jersey to? Key positional battles at each club.
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For some, it’s one positional battle, while for other clubs there’s a few pieces of the puzzle still to put together. Here’s a look at the club-by-club positional battles ahead of the 2023 NRL season.
RABBITOHS
Positional battles: Centre, Wing
Analysis: From sin bins to send offs and a six-match suspension for an ugly tackle on Penrith’s Spencer Leniu, winger Taane Milne’s ill-discipline is a liability. Milne will only miss the opening game of the competition after serving the bulk of his ban for Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup. But this opens the door for Isaiah Tass and Izaac Thompson, who are vying for centre and wing spots, respectively. Tass has proven his NRL credentials and rookie Izaac Thompson was solid in two games on the wing. Then there’s the matter of young guns Tyrell Kalo Kalo and rising winger Josiah Karapani, who can only be denied for so long. Karapani excelled when given a shot at NSW Cup level with his footwork and ability to break the line. The 20-year-old is nipping at the heels of Milne and Thompson.
Best 17
1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Alex Johnston
3. Isaiah Tass
4. Campbell Graham
5. Izaac Thompson
6. Cody Walker
7. Lachlan Ilias
8. Tevita Tatola
9. Damien Cook
10. Thomas Burgess
11. Keaon Koloamatangi
12. Jai Arrow
13. Cameron Murray
14. Siliva Havili
15. Daniel Suluka-Fifita
16. Davvy Moale
17. Jacob Host
SEA EAGLES
Positional battle: Centre
Analysis: Reuben Garrick knocked back a deal to play fullback at Newcastle to take up a new four-year extension with the Sea Eagles, and the promise to play a new position. And if Tom Trbojevic is fit to start the season then Garrick will partner Tolu Koula in the centres. Where that leaves Brad Parker and Morgan Harper is up in the air. But it also opens the door for powerful youngster Christian Tuipulotu to claim Garrick’s vacant wing spot.
Best 17
1. Tom Trbojevic
2. Christian Tuipulotu
3. Tolu Koula
4. Reuben Garrick
5. Jason Saab
6. Josh Schuster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Josh Aloiai
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Taniela Paseka
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
12. Kelma Tuilagi
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Karl Lawton
15. Toafofoa Sipley
16. Sean Keppie
17. Cooper Johns
BRONCOS
Positional battle: Hooker
Analysis: Billy Walters never gives anything less than 100 per cent and because of that you can’t ask anything more from him. But you also can’t hide from the fact Walters is more a utility than a specialist dummy half, and as a result this remains the one obvious weakness in this current Broncos roster. If Cory Paix can get an injury-free run he has the talent to be the long-term answer at nine, while the club has high hopes for Blake Mozer (although he considered more of a long-term project).
Best 17
1. Reece Walsh
2. Corey Oates
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Selwyn Cobbo
6. Ezra Mam
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Thomas Flegler
9. Billy Walters
10. Payne Haas
11. Kurt Capewell
12. Jordan Riki
13. Pat Carrigan
14. Cory Paix
15. Keenan Palasia
16. Kobe Hetherington/TC Robati
17. Brendan Piakura
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BULLDOGS
Positional battle: Fullback/halfback
Analysis: How Cameron Ciraldo manages the fullback and halfback situations could be the key to the Bulldogs’ season. With Jake Averillo and Kyle Flanagan looking over their shoulders as Canterbury chase Penrith centre Stephen Crichton to play fullback and Parramatta playmaker Mitchell Moses for 2024, Ciraldo still needs to get the best out of the incumbents until the cavalry arrives. Another option might be to move Averillo back to the halves to challenge Flanagan, and give young speedster and Lebanon international Jacob Kiraz a crack at fullback.
Best 17
1. Jake Averillo
2. Jacob Kiraz
3. Braidon Burns
4. Paul Alamoti
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Tevita Pangai Junior
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Luke Thompson
11. Viliame Kikau
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
13. Max King
14. Fa’amanu Brown
15. Ryan Sutton
16. Franklin Pele
17. Andrew Davey
COWBOYS
Positional battle: Utility
Analysis: Coach Todd Payten finished last season with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as a backline utility on the bench. Tabuai-Fidow’s exit to the Dolphins gives Ben Hampton and Jake Granville a great shot to claim the utility spot. Granville is an astute dummy half but Hampton provides more cover across the spine in the halves and the back five. Forward Reuben Cotter can also slot in at hooker with ease if needed. There’s also youngster Tom Chester, who has been training at centre, but can play at lock and in the halves and will be in the mix for Round 1 selection.
Best 17
1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Murray Taulagi
3. Peta Hiku
4. Valentine Holmes
5. Kyle Feldt
6. Tom Dearden
7. Chad Townsend
8. Jordan McLean
9. Reece Robson
10. Reuben Cotter
11. Jeremiah Nanai
12. Luciano Leilua
13. Jason Taumalolo
14. Ben Hampton
15. James Tamou
16. Griffin Neame
17. Coen Hess
DOLPHINS
Positional battle: Halfback
Analysis: Wayne Bennett pillaged Melbourne’s pack luring big name talent up north, but the biggest signing is still the untried but prodigious playmaker Isaiya Katoa. Penrith left Katoa out of their Jersey Flegg side after he signed with the Dolphins until his game breaking ability was needed in the grand final, where he kicked the winning field goal. The question for Bennett is how long can he hold Katoa back? Sean O’Sullivan provided a worthy replacement for Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary and that competence will see him get the nod for Round 1 alongside Anthony Milford, who has 206 games of experience under his belt.
Best 17
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2. Jamayne Isaako
3. Tesi Niu
4. Euan Aitken
5. Edrick Lee
6. Anthony Milford
7. Sean O’Sullivan
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Thomas Gilbert
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenny Bromwich
13. Ray Stone
14. Kodi Nikorima
15. Herman Ese’ese
16. Mark Nicholls
17. Jarrod Wallace
DRAGONS
Positional battle: Fullback
Analysis: Tyrell Sloan wanted out of the Dragons twice in the last 12 months but his differences with coach Anthony Griffin have been settled, for now, despite falling out of favour and behind Cody Ramsey and Moses Mbye in the fullback stakes. Ramsey’s pre-season has been hampered by illness (ulcerative colitis), leaving Sloan in the box seat to get the No. 1 jumper for St George Illawarra’s season opener against the Titans. A confident Sloan, knowing he has the backing of his coach, is sure to provide some much needed spark with his speed and skill to a Dragons’ attack that only averaged 19 points per game in 2022.
Best 17
1. Tyrell Sloan
2. Mikaele Ravalawa
3. Moses Suli
4. Zac Lomax
5. Mat Feagai
6. Jayden Sullivan
7. Ben Hunt
8. Zane Musgrove
9. Jacob Liddle
10. Blake Lawrie
11. Jack Bird
12. Jaydn Su’A
13. Jack de Belin
14. Moses Mbye
15. Aaron Woods
16. Tyrell Fuimaono
17. Francis Molo
EELS
Positional battle: Lock/second row
Analysis: The departure of Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore has left two massive holes, and it is up to new recruits J’maine Hopgood and Jack Murchie to fill them. Hopgood in particular is ready to own the starting lock spot with Ryan Matterson on the edge and Wests Tigers’ target Nathan Brown on the bench. The only reason the 23-year-old former Panther has so far been limited to nine NRL games is because he’s been stuck behind the best No. 13 in the business in Isaah Yeo. He could emerge one of the buys of the year.
Best 17
1. Clint Gutherson
2. Maika Sivo
3. Will Penisini
4. Bailey Simonsson
5. Waqa Blake
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Junior Paulo
11. Shaun Lane
12. Ryan Matterson
13. J’maine Hopgood
14. Jake Arthur
15. Nathan Brown
16. Jack Murchie
17. Makahesi Makatoa
KNIGHTS
Positional battle: Fullback
Analysis: The old saying is you don’t weaken a strength to strengthen a weakness, but that is exactly what the Knights will do by moving Kalyn Ponga into five-eighth, especially if they don’t end up securing Shark Lachlan Miller. At this point Cronulla is holding its ground by not releasing him, although the Knights remain confident the deal will eventually get done. But if they miss out on Miller it will present a huge worry heading into the New Year with Dane Gagai then left as the most likely option at fullback, and young Kystian Mapapalangi moving into the centres.
Best 17
1. Dane Gagai
2. Enari Tuala
3. Krystian Mapapalangi
4. Bradman Best
5. Dominic Young
6. Kalyn Ponga
7. Jackson Hastings
8. Jacob Saifiti
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Daniel Saifiti
11. Tyson Frizell
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Adam Elliott
14. Tyson Gamble
15. Leo Thompson
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Brodie Jones
PANTHERS
Positional battle: Back-row
Analysis: Viliame Kikau’s left edge spot is former Wests Tigers second rower Luke Garner’s to lose. Garner knows replacing the Belmore-bound Fijian powerhouse won’t be an easy feat, but after being shuffled between the backrow, centre and used from the bench the 27-year old will get a shot at cementing a place on the edge. He’ll face competition in the pre-season from former Brisbane forward Zac Hosking, who played four NRL games last year, and Preston Riki. But NSW Cup backrower Riki had his contract downgraded to a train-and-trail over the summer and realistically is more of a depth option than a round-one starter.
Best 17
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To’o
3. Stephen Crichton
4. Izack Tago
5. Taylan May
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Moses Leota
9. Mitch Kenny
10. James Fisher-Harris
11. Luke Garner
12. Liam Martin
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Soni Luke
15. Scott Sorensen
16. Spencer Leniu
17. Tyrone Peachey
RAIDERS
Positional battle: Lock
Analysis: This is a tricky one for Ricky Stuart with no out-and-out lock options, at least by modern standards. Corey Horsburgh has an offload but isn’t a natural ball-player, while Corey Harawira-Naera’s defence can fall by the wayside. Trey Mooney is in the frame for the No. 13 spot but has a skill set suited to a prop. There is also former Penrith junior Hohepa Puru, an agile ball-playing lock who is sturdy in defence. But the former Panthers‘ Jersey Flegg captain, and man of the match in last year’s grand final win, is on a train-and-trial deal and won’t factor until the back end of the season.
Best 17
1. Xavier Savage
2. Nick Cotric
3. Matthew Tomoko
4. Sebastian Kris
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Jack Wighton
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papalii
9. Tom Starling
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Corey Horsburgh
14. Zach Woolford
15. Corey Harawira-Naera
16. Emre Guler
17. Pasami Saulo
ROOSTERS
Positional battle: Five-eighth
Analysis: How does Trent Robinson not play Joey Manu at five-eighth? Yes, Luke Keary is a hell of a footballer, a three-time premiership winner and Clive Churchill Medallist. But you just can’t ignore Manu’s form playing fullback and five-eighth at the World Cup showed why the Roosters are doing themselves a disservice if they don’t move him closer to the action permanently. Whether that means Keary or Sam Walker plays in the No. 7 jumper in 2023, that’s another debate entirely. But the reigning Golden Boot winner has surely earned the right to dictate where he plays. And if it is not fullback because of James Tedesco, it has to be in the halves.
Best 17
1. James Tedesco
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Joseph Suaalii
4. Joey Manu
5. Jaxson Paulo
6. Luke Keary
7. Sam Walker
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Brandon Smith
10. Matt Lodge
11. Angus Crichton
12. Nat Butcher
13. Victor Radley
14. Jake Turpin
15. Egan Butcher
16. Lindsay Collins
17. Connor Watson
SHARKS
Positional battle: Fullback
Analysis: The emergence of former rugby sevens star Lachlan Miller and rookie Kade Dykes has cast doubt over Will Kennedy’s job security at the back. Miller backed up his 294 metres on debut with 10 tackle busts at 197 metres when recalled in round 23 at the back end of the season. Unlike Kennedy and Miller, Dykes is signed until the end of 2024 and is also a genuine option in the back. The question for Craig Fitzgibbon is how soon does he pull the trigger on Dykes? Kennedy struggled to reach the heights of his impressive 2021 campaign. But his experience will earn him a Round 1 place.
Best 17
1. Will Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Siosifa Talakai
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Matt Moylan
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Toby Rudolph
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Royce Hunt
11. Briton Nikora
12. Wade Graham
13. Dale Finucane
14. Teig Wilton
15. Cameron McInnes
16. Braden Hamlin-Uele
17. Oregon Kaufusi
STORM
Positional battle: Back-row
Analysis: Newcomers Tariq Sims and Eliesa Katoa, along with Trent Loiero, will battle it out for the back-row spots vacated by Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi. Katoa has a point to prove but won’t be given a walk-up start. Sims’ state and international experience will give him an edge over Katoa, while Loiero continued his development, from the bench, with 17 games last season. The 21-year-old is shaping as a mainstay in the Storm’s pack as a starting backrower. Rookie Jack Howarth and Super League recruit Joe Chan are worthy contenders but won’t usurp Sims, Katoa or Loiero in the opening rounds.
Best 17
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen
2. Nick Meaney
3. Reimis Smith
4. Justin Olam
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
9. Harry Grant
10. Christian Welch
11. Tariq Sims
12. Trent Loiero
13. Josh King
14. Tyran Wishart
15. Tepai Moeroa
16. Tui Kamikamica
17. Eliesa Katoa
TIGERS
Positional battle: Fullback
Analysis: The big question here is whether Tim Sheens will stick with Daine Laurie in the No. 1 jumper, or give former Panther Charlie Staines first shot at fullback, and shift the incumbent custodian to the bench utility role? Given the Tigers finished with the wooden spoon, Sheens is entitled to make some changes if he thinks it can spark them into action. But with Laurie off contract at the end of 2023, it will also be interesting to see how this plays out. It’s hard to imagine how he could go from starting fullback to a bench utility and be happy about it.
Best 17
1. Charlie Staines
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Starford To’a
4. Brent Naden
5. Ken Maumalo
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
8. David Klemmer
9. Api Koroisau
10. Alex Twal
11. John Bateman
12. Isaiah Papali’i
13. Joe Ofahengaue
14. Daine Laurie
15. Fonua Pole
16. Shawn Blore
17. Stefano Utoikamanu
TITANS
Positional battle: Fullback/five-eighth
Analysis: Kieran Foran’s experience is going to be a huge boost for the Titans, but it has still caused a major headache in respect to who should be his halves partner. Does Justin Holbrook play AJ Brimson at five-eighth and Jayden Campbell at fullback, like most expect will happen? Or would it be safer – and better for the team – if Brimson moved back to fullback for now, allowing either Tanah Boyd or Toby Sexton to be educated alongside Foran? Young Tom Weaver is the other young half rated a tremendous talent. But as promising as young Campbell also is, he is not in the same league as Brimson at this stage. And there is no doubt Brimson is a better fullback than he is a five-eighth. Tough decisions are coming.
Best 17
1. AJ Brimson
2. Phillip Sami
3. Brian Kelly
4. Aaron Schoupp
5. Jojo Fifita
6. Kieran Foran
7. Toby Sexton
8. Moeaki Fotuaika
9. Sam Verrills
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. David Fifita
12. Beau Fermor
13. Isaac Liu
14. Tanah Boyd
15. Joe Stimson
16. Jaimin Joliffe
17. Erin Clark
WARRIORS
Position battle: Centre
Analysis: New coach Andrew Webster has plenty of options at centre but the club’s commitment to rising star Viliami Vailea has him locked in to start the season. The rookie proved a potent weapon in attack with seven tries from 10 games. Rocco Berry and Adam Pompey are vying for the second spot, but with the latter having 19 games at centre in 2022, Pompey will get the nod. Marcelo Montoya finished the season at centre and is a viable option there if Webster prefers Edward Kosi on the wing.
Best 17
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Viliami Vailea
4. Adam Pompey
5. Marcelo Montoya
6. Luke Metcalf
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Wayde Egan
10. Tohu Harris
11. Marata Niukore
12. Mitch Barnett
13. Josh Curran
14. Dylan Walker
15. Jazz Tevaga
16. Bunty Afoa
17. Jackson Ford
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