Tom Trbojevic, Ashley Taylor, Latrell Mitchell: Lifting the lid on the class of 2016

THE judges have spoken and the Under 20s team of the year has been named. We lift the lid on the class of 2016.

IN case you missed it, the Under 20s team of the year was named on Monday, with the cream of the Holden Cup named as the competition’s best.

With such luminaries as Daly Cherry-Evans, Jesse Bromwich, Kieran Foran, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Ben Hunt forming the honour roll, big things will no doubt be expected from the class of 2015.

We’ve taken a look at the players judged the best in the competition and previewed what role they’ll play in first grade in 2016.

1) Tom Trbojevic

Chances are you’ve already heard a little bit about Trbojevic. The Mona Vale junior has produced a series of eye-catching performances since making his first grade debut against Canberra in the early part of the season and went on to score eight tries in nine games.

Trboejvic’s trips to first grade limited his involvement in Manly’s Under 20s season to 11 matches, but he still managed to score 19 tries and make an incredible 28 line breaks.

The 19-year olds season also produced one of the finest individual performances the competition has ever seen in the Sea Eagles 36-16 win over the Warriors in Round 20, when he scored four tries and ran for an incredible 485 metres with ball in hand.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Absolutely, but fitting him in might be harder than it looks. The Sea Eagles backline is their main strength — Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Steve Matai, Jamie Lyon and Peta Hiku have a real claim at being the best squadron of outside backs in the competition.

Along with Clint Gutherson, who will be returning from a knee injury, Trbojevic will be first cab off the rank should any of them go down with injury.

However, given that the Sea Eagles need to find somebody to partner Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves, Trbojevic could be shoehorned into five-eighth or into the centres should Jamie Lyon shift back into the halves.

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Tom Trbojevic has starred in the Under 20s and NRL this season.

2) Gideon Mosby

Gideon Mosby is in the try scoring business and brother, business is booming. A four-try haul against the Broncos in the first week of the finals took his season tally to an impossible 38 from 21 matches.

Mosby hasn’t just smashed the competition record of 31 tries, set by Jake Mullaney in 2009, he’s levelled the first grade record set by Dave Brown in 1935.

He’s crossed for four tries four times this season and has made a league leading 37 line breaks. This kid has some serious wheels and turns 19 in December, which means he’s still eligible for the Under 20s next season.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Possibly. While Mosby’s pedigree and physical abilities cannot be denied, he is still only 18-years old. Given the reshuffling Cowboys coach Paul Green has undergone with his backline this season, he might opt to inject a wildcard like Mosby out on the wing.

3) Jordan Drew

Quick and powerful, Drew’s third season in the Under 20s has been by far his best and the Nanango junior has scored 18 tries in 20 appearances for the premiership contending Broncos. One of a record six Brisbane players selected in the team, Drew represented the Queensland Under 20s and the Junior Kangaroos earlier this season. Drew can play both centre and wing and appears ready to take the step up to first grade.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Curiously, Drew made his first grade debut over two seasons ago in a 26-24 win over the Dragons in Round 22 of 2013. Drew managed to score a try, but hasn’t been seen in the top grade since. With Justin Hodges retiring, he’s expected to battle Jordan Kahu and Dale Copley for the right centre position but given the experience of Kahu and Copley, Drew is definitely in the picture as a back up.

4) Addison Demetriou

Demetriou was putting in a solid season at prop for the Sea Eagles, but once he got moved to the centres he started smashing the world to pieces. The big unit leads the league in tackle breaks with 172, including 26 in a single match, and has barged over for 20 tries. After being let go from two NRL clubs, Demetriou was signed by the Sea Eagles following an eye-catching trial at the NRL Combine Camp held on the Gold Coast earlier this season and has been something of a revelation in 2015.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Possibly, but probably not in the centres. While Demetriou is a forced to be reckoned with when he’s got the ball, his defence and mobility can be exposed on occasions. This is to be expected — after all, he’s only played a handful of matches out wide — but it’s something he’ll need to improve on if he’s going to be a long term centre in the NRL. As a result, the early stages of Demetriou’s NRL career are likely to come off the bench.

5) Joseph Manu

The majority of Manu’s football this season has come in the centres but given his impressive form over the course of the season it’s easy to see why he’s been shifted to the wing in order to gain a place on the team. The competition’s second leading tryscorer with 22, the New Zealander’s preferred position is fullback but his speed and footwork have been put to good use and with another year of eligbiloty under his belt he’ll continue to develop in the Under 20s next season.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Unlikely. The Roosters backline is already one of the most crowded units in rugby league and it’ll remain that way in 2016 despite the departure of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. English winger Joe Burgess joins from Wigan and impressive youngster Brendan Elliot will be pushing for a spot, giving Trent Robinson a litany of options to choose from. Given Manu’s age, he’s probably a fair way down the depth chart and is likely to spend next year in the Holden Cup.

Te Maire Martin captained the Junior Kiwis earlier this season.

6) Te Maire Martin

One of two players backing up from the 2014 Under 20s team of the year, Martin led the competition in try assists in 2015 and continued to show the clever passing and swift footwork that have many counting him as a star of the future. With Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses occupying the Tigers halves for the foreseeable future, Martin has joined the Panthers in 2016.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Yes, but it remains to be seen how much.

With Peter Wallace one knee injury away from hanging up the boots and the departure of back up halves Isaac John and Apisai Koroisau, the Panthers depth in the halves is looking a little scant. Martin will likely start the year in NSW Cup, but he’s likely to play at least a little bit of first grade before the year is out.

The looming spectre of Matt Moylan, who has been linked with a move to five-eighth ever since he came into first grade, could be another obstruction for the Turangawaewae junior.

7) Ashley Taylor

A favourite for player of the year, Taylor has looked a class above all season for the Broncos. As with Martin, the presence of Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford have forced Taylor to look elsewhere for a consistent first grade gig and the talented 20-year old chose to join the Titans ahead of Manly in 2016.

Taylor made his first grade debut in Round 26 against the Storm, but an ugly compound fracture forced him off inside the opening 40 minutes and ended his season.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Yes. Kane Elgey has been superb in his rookie campaign for the Titans and will slot in at halfback with Taylor to battle it out with fellow recruit Tyrone Roberts fill the vacancy at five-eighth.

Given the inexperience of Elgey and hooker Kierran Moseley, coach Neil Henry may opt to go with the experience of Roberts but the upside of Taylor might be too tantalising to resist.

8) Villiame Kikau

A powerful, rangy Fijian front rower, Kikau’s athleticism has been put to good use this season as the big man has charged across for an incredible 21 tries from 20 games. Kikau opened the season with a hat-trick against the Roosters, grabbed another treble against the Dragons in Round 17 and has also snagged four doubles for a try scoring haul that any winger would be proud to call their own. The 20-year old, who made his Test debut for Fiji earlier this season, will join the Panthers in 2016.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Yes. The Panthers front row rotation is a little uncertain at the moment — Sam McKendry, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Jeremy Latimore are the established props while Suaia Matagi joins from the Roosters and young bull Andy Saunders is expected to push for a first grade spot.

Throw in the possibility that Trent Merrin might be shifted upfront by Ivan Cleary and there’s not a whole lot of room for Kikau, but he offers a dynamic edge that few in the Penrith line up can match.

9) Jayden Berrell

The Junior Kangaroos hooker, Berrell has enjoyed a stellar season directing the athletic Broncos pack around the field and has impressed with his speed out of dummy half and smart passing. With a strong thirst for work and well-rounded skills, Berrell is something of a low key prospect but has high upside and will be regarded as long term player for Brisbane.

Will he play first grade in 2016: No. You’d need to cut Andrew McCullough’s legs off to stop him from playing and with Kodi Nikorima showing flashes of great potential in his limited opportunities this season, Berrell will likely have to bide his time in the Queensland Cup.

10) Joe Ofahengaue

A powerful front rower with an impossible work rate, Ofahengaue has been picked more on the strength of his first grade performances. The 19-year old has played just seven matches in the Holden Cup this season but did manage to gain over 160 metres with ball in hand in those matches. Ofahengaue has played 12 top grade matches this season and made his finals debut in the win over Melbourne. The Ipswich junior refused a rich offer from the Titans earlier this season to recommit to the Broncos for another two years.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Without a shadow of a doubt.

Joe Ofahengaue has played a good deal of first grade this season.

11) Coen Hess

One of the most highly rated prospects to come through the Cowboys system, Hess is a line running edge backrower in the Boyd Cordner mould who can just as easily threaten the defence with powerful charges or deft hands. A Mount Isa junior, Hess still has another year of eligibility in the Holden Cup but made his NRL debut earlier this season off the bench for the Cowboys, scoring a try in a 56-16 win over the Warriors.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Yes. Hess might not be an NRL regular in 2016 but given his strong performances in the Holden Cup, the Queensland Cup and his eye catching NRL debut he’s a safe bet to be a regular off the bench next season.

12) Tevita Pangai Junior

The Raiders epic decline in the Under 20s, which saw them crash from top four contenders to semi final cannon fodder in a matter of weeks, overshadowed the enduring excellent form of Tevita Pangai Junior. Selected as a backrower, Pangai Junior played the majority of the year at prop and his tackle busting ability, combined with an incredible penchant for offloading, makes him one of the elite forward prospects in rugby league. A Junior Kangaroo stalwart and one of the latest Raiders prospects to come out their relationship with Queensland club Souths Logan, Pangai Junior has switched between the Holden Cup and NSW Cup throughout the season.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Yes. The Raiders are a little light on front rowers following the departure of David Shillington and Dane Tilse and Pangai Junior is in the box seat to snag a spot on the bench and back up Paul Vaughan and Shannon Boyd.

13) Jai Arrow

Think Corey Parker but without the silver locks. Arrow currently leads the Under 20s in hit ups and sits third in metres gained and has been the bedrock for a powerful Broncos forward pack. Arrow has the second most offloads in the competition and is the prototypical modern lock forward. A Junior Kangaroo representative, Arrow will be an ideal replacement for Parker — both for the Broncos and for SuperCoach fanatics — when the veteran decides to hang up the boots.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Yes, but only a little. Given that Alex Glenn, Matt Gillet, Sam Thaiday, Parker and Ofahengaue will all be battling for minutes in the backrow, it makes Arrow’s chances of cracking the big time a little slim. However, with the Broncos sure to ravaged yet again come Origin time, Arrow could come into contention for a spot on the bench.

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14) Latrell Mitchell

Perhaps the most hyped up junior footballer of the last decade, Mitchell has excelled at fullback for the Roosters this season and has broken the second highest number of tackles in the competition. Lean and rangy and possessing a wicked fend, the comparisons to Greg Inglis are massively premature at this point but the potential of the Taree junior is plain for all to see.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Yes, but sporadically. Mitchell is still only 18 and throwing him into the fullback position vacated by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could hamstring his development permanently. What is more likely is that Trent Robinson eases Mitchell in just as he did with Tuivasa-Sheck — a game on the wing here and there before giving him the full time job towards the back end of the season or early in 2017.

15) Brent Naden

The only player from the minor premiership winning Panthers side, Naden has the grace, speed and versatility of a top class outside back. Best suited to fullback or centre, Naden has excelled for Penrith this season and gained selection in the NSW Under 20s side earlier this year. While he’s still got some growing out to do, Naden is anticipated to spend the 2015-16 off-season training with the first grade squad.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Yes. Given Penrith’s horrific injury toll in 2015 and the consistent rumours that dog centre Jamal Idris regarding his possible departure from the Panthers, the mountain men could have a vacancy at left centre sooner rather than later. Waqa Blake has shown glimpses of ability this year, but Naden could swoop under him and steal the spot, giving Penrith just the strike outside back they’ve been needing.

16) Jayden Nikorima

Younger brother of fellow Bronco Kodi, Jayden Nikorima has the speed, footwork and ball skills to cover fullback, hooker, the halves and centre. He was starring for the Broncos Under 20s before a shoulder injury ruined his season and he played a big role in their charge to the grand final in 2015. Brisbane tried hard to retain the exciting utility, but he signed a rich deal with the Roosters two months ago.

Will he play first grade in 2016: Hard to say. Nikorima certainly has the talent to play first grade and won’t get any better running through overmatched Under 20s players, but its hard to see how he fits into the Roosters plans. Blake Ferguson and Mitchell seem to have a mortgage on the vacant fullback spot, Mitchell Pearce and Jackson Hastings have the halves locked down, Jake Friend is an 80-minute hooker and Mitchell Aubusson has the utility role on the bench. Unless injury strikes or Robinson decides to pull a fast one its hard to see how Nikorima will get a go.

17) Danny Levi

The other player backing up from the 2014 team of the year, Levi has only played 13 matches in the Holden Cup this season after shifting between first grade and reserve grade. Quick off the mark and with a venomous dummy, Levi has the ability to cut the defence to ribbons and will only improve as he gets fitter and improves his decision making.

Will he play first grade in 2016: For sure. Of the Knights three options for hooker — Levi, Tyler Randall and Adam Clydesdale — the young Kiwi is by far the most talented and even with the spectre of Robbie Farah potentially looming over the club, he’s sure to play a whole lot of top grade footy in 2016.