NRL Round 2 power rankings and market movers: J’maine Hopgood, Ezra Mam, Jacob Preston stocks soar

It’s taken just two NRL games for the Bulldogs to unearth the surprise packet of the competition and he headlines an impressive list of market movers.

Reece Walsh produced one of the Broncos' best ever club debuts. Picture: NRL Images.

Jacob Preston’s arrival at Canterbury in the off-season barely raised a murmur as all the talk centred around the Bulldogs’ big-money signings in Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney.

But the unheralded 21-year-old is an early contender for bargain buy of the year after the Bulldogs got under the guard of the Sydney Roosters to sign the former Chooks lower-grader.

He made such an impression on coach Cameron Ciraldo in the off-season that he won a spot on the Bulldogs’ bench for their round-1 loss to Manly, and was elevated into the starting line-up against Melbourne, where he played 76 minutes at lock.

Now he takes his place in the back row on the opposite side to Kikau, where he is expected to continue his meteoric rise against the Wests Tigers at what is a sell-out crowd at Belmore Sportsground on Sunday.

Preston headlines an impressive list of NRL market movers, players whose values have skyrocketed in the opening round of the competition.

Jacob Preston is fast becoming a fan favourite at the Bulldogs. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

NRL MARKET MOVERS

BRAYDON TRINDALL (SHARKS)

Has looked every bit a first-grade half while deputising for Nicho Hynes. Pre-season value $180,000 ^ Current value $350,000

JACOB PRESTON (BULLDOGS)

The young back-rower looks a steal after joining the Dogs from the Roosters’ lower grades. More than held his own against the Storm last weekend, scoring a nice try and earning himself a starting spot against Wests Tigers on Sunday. The Belrose Eagles junior made his debut in round 1 and has more than doubled his value in just two weeks, proving an astute pick-up for the Bulldogs. ($120,000 ^ $270,000)

JEREMY MARSHALL-KING (DOLPHINS)

One of the form hookers in the comp. Has been one of the driving forces behind the Dolphins’ unbeaten start to the year. ($500,000 ^ $650,000)

SONI LUKE (PANTHERS)

Explosive hooker who has been forced to share the role with Mitch Kenny but it seems only a matter of time before he makes the jump from the bench to the starting side. ($120,000 ^ $350,000)

EZRA MAM (BRONCOS)

Picked up where he left off last season. Electrifying No.6 who has looked one of the best halves in the comp. ($400,000 ^ $550,000)

*News Corp market values, not actual NRL wages

Things are looking up for Billy Slater. Fresh from a debut win as Queensland coach in last year’s State of Origin series, Slater’s maroon stocks are looking stronger than ever after the state’s teams and players got off to a flyer to start the NRL season.

News Corp can reveal that six Queenslanders have found their way into the inaugural power rankings, headlined by Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh.

Walsh was the standout player in round two of the premiership after missing the opening round through injury. So good was his performance, he immediately jumped to the top of the power rankings.

The top 10 featured six Queenslanders – Walsh, Felise Kaufusi, Daly Cherry-Evans, Ben Hunt, J’maine Hopgood and Harry Grant.

Hopgood has emerged as one of the surprise packets of the season, putting him on the radar of Slater and the Queensland selectors as they consider their options heading into this year’s series.

Reece Walsh soared on his Broncos debut. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

BRENT READ’S NRL POWER RANKINGS

10. Tohu Harris (Warriors)

The Warriors back rower has been one of the club’s most consistent players since returning to New Zealand. He has maintained those standards this season in a Warriors side that won its opening game and then gave the Sydney Roosters a shake in their second.

9. Harry Grant (Melbourne)

Grant was dynamite in week one for the Storm as they opened their season with a win over Parramatta. He was less effective in week two in a Melbourne side that laboured against the Bulldogs. In danger of slipping out of the top 10 unless he and the Storm rebound this weekend.

8. J’maine Hopgood (Parramatta)

Hopgood has been one of the early success stories of the season, filling a void in the back row at last year’s grand finalists. There was a buzz around the former Penrith player heading into the season and he has more than lived up to the billing.

7. Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra)

Hunt vowed that the Dragons wouldn’t win the wooden spoon and he did his best to make sure he was good to his word as St George Illawarra opened their season with a big win over Gold Coast. A class act on and off the field.

6. Lachlan Miller (Newcastle)

Newcastle’s energiser bunny never stopped in the Knights’ win over the Wests Tigers on Sunday. After running for 173 metres in a season-opening loss to the Warriors, he ran for another 142 metres and busted eight tackles against the Tigers.

5. Isaah Yeo (Penrith)

Yeo was inspirational as the Panthers opened their account against South Sydney last week. Penrith’s co-captain ran for 132 metres, churned through 35 tackles and missed none as Penrith toppled the Rabbitohs.

Isaah Yeo showed why he is the game’s best lock. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

4. Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly)

Cherry-Evans enjoyed the bye at the weekend but he stays in the top thanks to his performance in Manly’s opening game of the season, where he scored a hat-trick of tries and inspired the Sea Eagles to a big win over Canterbury.

3. Will Kennedy (Cronulla)

Kennedy produced one of the performances of his career as Cronulla toppled Parramatta at Commbank Stadium last Friday. The Sharks No. 1 scored three tries as he ran amok against the Eels.

2. Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)

The Dolphins have been one of the surprise packets in the early stages of the season thanks in large part to Kaufusi. The Queensland forward’s aggression and intensity has set the tone for the game’s newest franchise.

1. Reece Walsh (Brisbane)

Walsh has played one game for Brisbane and what a game it was. The Broncos fullback was exhilarating as they made it back-to-back wins to open their season.