The most under pressure men to perform in NRL season 2020
From big dollar marquee signings to reigning Dally M Awards winners, we run the rule over the men most under the pump when the 2020 season returns.
Teams
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From big dollar marquee signings to reigning Dally M Awards winners, we run the rule over the men most under the pump when the 2020 season returns.
LATRELL MITCHELL
Rabbitohs
While the draw is yet to be finalised, the most anticipated match-up has to be Mitchell versus his former teammate James Tedesco, which was next up when they pulled the pin on the season in March.
Mitchell made the switch to Redfern primarily to play in the No.1 jumper that Tedesco well and truly owned at the Roosters. Mitchell’s first two outings at fullback in 2020 didn’t go so well, and the gulf between the two is clear: in the first two rounds of the competition, Fox Sports Lab had Mitchell running for 106m compared with Teddy’s 460m.
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KYLE FLANAGAN
Roosters
Arrived in Bondi faced with arguably the greatest challenge of the new season — replacing the man who took the Roosters to back-to-back grand finals. Coach Trent Robinson showed enormous faith to hand Cooper Cronk’s No.7 jumper to Flanagan, having only played nine NRL games with Cronulla. With two straight losses to open their campaign, the Roosters need to find some results or the blowtorch will turn on Flanagan.
VALENTINE HOLMES
Cowboys
After his NRL sojourn, he slots into a Cowboys side that must find results. Across key statistics such as try assists and tackle breaks, Holmes is holding his own despite missing last season to pursue his NFL dream with the New York Jets. But the former Sharkie, who was one of the best running players in the game, needs to find some run metres to catch up with the likes of James Tedesco and the Warriors’ Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
ASHLEY TAYLOR
Titans
There was a time when respected commentators such as Fox League’s Matthew Johns were predicting Ashley Taylor would develop into the best halfback in the game. But it’s been a downhill slide for the young half, culminating in time away from the sport to deal with personal issues last season. With new coach Justin Holbrook on the Gold Coast to reinvigorate him, Taylor must start playing to his potential to prevent the Titans taking the wooden spoon again.
ANTHONY MILFORD
Broncos
When Milford has that twinkle in toes, he is unstoppable. But he hasn’t delivered the game-breaking plays and matchwinning performances anywhere near enough for a five-eighth said to be on $1 million a season. Now that he has a regular halves partner in Brodie Croft, Milford needs to stop fading in and out games and instead take control of his side.
BEN HUNT
Dragons
Into his third season of a $1 million-a-year contract, Hunt shows glimpses of talent but little consistency. No wonder Dragons fans remain frustrated. Where he lacked most in 2019 compared with other halfbacks, according to Fox Sports Lab stats, was in try assists (14), compared with the likes of Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses (31) and Manly’s Daly Cherry Evans (25). He must step up to help his side turn around last season’s 15th-place finish.
PAUL MCGREGOR
Dragons
Little doubt the Dragons coach is copping the heat. After a disastrous 2019, where his side finished 15th — only bettered by the last-placed Titans — St George Illawarra have started 2020 with two straight losses. The club has been conducting one-on-one supervised training sessions with players to ensure they are ready for the restart. Will it be enough to save McGregor’s job?
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SHAUN JOHNSON and MATT MOYLAN
Sharks
The injury-plagued big-money signings haven’t reached the heights expected from Sharks fans. In the pre-season, Chad Townsend leapt to the defence of Moylan, declaring the playmaker a crucial cog for 2020 despite being ruled out with injury for the first two rounds. Ironically, Moylan poses the biggest threat to the injury-plagued Johnson, one of the game’s most naturally gifted players, as the Sharks try to get the game-breaking best from No.6.
ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK
Warriors
It’s been one heck of rollercoaster for the Warriors — from being forced to stay in Australia when the season was first suspended in March to now facing being without their families until October. Surely staying focused on winning games becomes a challenge. Tuivasa-Sheck must galvanise his team under such trying circumstances — and if he does, all power to the Kiwi side.