NRL Mock Draft: Which youngster your club would recruit if they could
An NRL draft is miles away from happening, but how would it look if it ever took shape? Brent Read identifies the young star that would be the best fit for every team.
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Never heard of Cam Ward? Well you’re about to. Ward is a 22-year-old quarterback from the Miami Hurricanes who has just been selected as the first overall pick in the NFL draft.
He has been ordained as the Tennessee Titans saviour.
The man to piece together a broken club after they finished last season with the worst record in the NFL, earning them the right to take the first pick in the draft.
Whether he likes it or not, Ward is headed to Tennessee and he is going to be handsomely paid for the privilege.
Best estimates suggest Ward is about to earn in excess of $US40 million a season.
It’s big bucks for a kid who is yet to play in the professional ranks, but small change compared to what the top quarterbacks earn. Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes is in the midst of a deal worth $US450 million all told.
Anyway, NFL draft day got us thinking: An NRL draft is miles away from happening, but how would it look if it ever took shape?
Let’s set some parameters.
The draft order will be based on last year’s finishing positions, which means the Wests Tigers get pick No.1. Just for fun, let’s make it for players aged 21 and under.
That’s about it. Let’s get cracking. We’re on the clock.
Wests Tigers – Lachlan Galvin. This is a controversial pick given Isaiah Katoa is also out there, but Galvin has shown in a short time that he is destined for higher honours. Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson conceded as much earlier this week. Imagine Galvin at the Tigers...
South Sydney – Isaiya Katoa. Again, not a hard pick. Cody Walker is getting towards the end of his career and Lewis Dodd has been unconvincing. Katoa is a superstar who is already owning games.
Parramatta – Lehi Hopoate. This is where things get interesting. The Eels have a fullback in Isaiah Iongi but theoretically he would go in the draft and right now, Hopoate is more advanced.
Gold Coast – Keano Kini. Again, Kini would stay on the Gold Coast after the exhilarating start to his career. The Titans are loaded with fullbacks, but Kini is the best of them.
Warriors – Leka Halasima. Halasima gets the chance to stay in New Zealand as the Warriors keep one of their own. Only 19, he is going to torment NRL opponents for years to come.
Broncos – Mitchell Woods. The Broncos have Ezra Mam to come back but they are ageing in the halves. Woods is the chosen one at the Bulldogs, but thanks to the draft, he will head to Brisbane and lead them for the next decade.
Dragons – Dylan Egan. The Dragons weigh up a half but decide to go local as they pick up the impressive Egan, who has made a flying start to his NRL career.
Dolphins – Joey Walsh. The Dolphins will lose Isaiah Katoa in the draft so they take a punt on Walsh, the rugby union sensation who has been earmarked to be Manly’s long term No.7.
Raiders – Owen Pattie. Canberra love a local junior so they stick solid with Pattie, who looks like he will have a long career in the No.9 jersey at Canberra.
Knights – Fletcher Sharpe. Newcastle fans love a local and Sharpe is a rising star who has already made his mark after moving to the halves. He gets to stay at home.
Manly – Tallyn da Silva. The Sea Eagles are in reasonable shape, but Lachlan Croker’s absence has left them exposed at hooker. Da Silva is a class act who would solve their problems.
Bulldogs – Isaiah Iongi. The Bulldogs went all-in on Ryan Papenhuyzen late last year and missed out. Connor Tracey has done a serviceable job but Iongi would give them a rising star in the No.1 jersey.
Cowboys – Ethan Strange. Tom Dearden is a superstar for the Cowboys but they need a long-term partner for him in the halves. Coby Black is one option but we opted for Strange, who has been great for the Raiders.
Sharks – Jaxon Purdue. The Sharks don’t have any dire needs, but Purdue covers a variety of positions and handles them all very well. His short career in the NRL has oozed class.
Roosters – Chevy Stewart. The Roosters need a long-term replacement for James Tedesco at fullback and Stewart seems an ideal fit. There are shades of Tedesco about the way he plays the game
Storm – Josiah Pahulu. Melbourne needs some big bodies and Pahulu is a monster. On the outer at Gold Coast after a breakout year in 2024, he would give the Storm plenty of oomph.
Panthers – Blaize Talagi. Talagi gets to stay at Penrith under the draft, where he can continue to work on forming a long-term partnership with Nathan Cleary.
There you go. That’s round one done and dusted.
* * * * *
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has had his share of critics lately – this columnist among them – but he now has his chance to provide an emphatic response as to why he should keep not just the Sea Eagles captaincy, but also his Queensland jersey.
What better way to silence the critics than to take the points against Nathan Cleary, the Penrith talisman who will lead NSW into battle next month?
Steer the Sea Eagles to a win on Saturday night and Cherry-Evans’ season – and Origin hopes – are back on track.
Slump to defeat, get outclassed and the vultures will continue to circle.
It’s pretty straight forward for Cherry-Evans as he looks to turn around not just his season, but that of the Sea Eagles.
The good news for Cherry-Evans is that Tom Trbojevic is back and expected to play.
Yes, the Sea Eagles slump started not long after Cherry-Evans announced he was leaving at the end of the season.
But it also coincided with the injury demise of Trbojevic and we all know how Manly play when their fullback is out of action. Cherry-Evans has suffered along with everyone else in the Sea Eagles side, but there are no more excuses.
If Daly can’t get it done on Saturday night, or at least shake off the form shackles, the blowtorch will intensify, particularly with Jake Trbojevic on the verge of a return and having made no secret of his desire to skipper the Sea Eagles.
Perhaps Cherry-Evans could do himself a favour as well and just confirm where he is going. Talk to many good judges in the game and they will tell you a deal is done and dusted at the Sydney Roosters. Has been for a while.
A contract may not have been signed, but a nudge and a wink certainly appear to have been given. It can’t be easy carrying a secret around while you’re trying to drag your side out of a form slump.
Nor can it be easy when your side is playing poorly, you are the captain and you have told your teammates you are leaving them at the end of the season.
Daly has been a loyal servant for Manly and Queensland.
He has done the jerseys proud. He has rarely let either down over the course of a career that has stemmed more than a decade in the big time.
Cleary now stands between him and righting the ship. Right now the Sea Eagles need him. Time to answer the call.
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