A surprise hero or villain for each NRL club so far in 2019
One of the great things about the NRL every year is the surprise packets who burst out of the wilderness to make their mark on the competition and its fans.
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ONE of the great things about the NRL every year is the surprise packets who burst out of the wilderness to make their mark on the competition and its fans.
Through the opening 10 rounds in 2019, there have been plenty of feel good stories from either little-known players or those whose careers had appeared on the ropes. There have also been some whose performances, it has to be said, have surprisingly left a bit to be desired.
We run through one hero or villain for each team thus far.
BRISBANE: Jake Turpin
Everyone knew Tom Dearden would make waves upon hitting the big stage but how many honestly thought the same of Turpin? In two starts he has made such an impression that Andrew McCullough ought to be worried.
CANBERRA: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Who? If anyone predicted the performances the 23-year-old – who prior to this season had played seven NRL games, all in 2017 at the Warriors – was going to produce in the Canberra No.1 jersey, kudos to them. He is a shining example of Canberra’s savvy off-season recruitment.
CANTERBURY: Jayden Okunbor
One of several unknown quantities in the Bulldogs line-up this season, Okunbor made his debut on the wing in Round 3 and has held his spot from there. He celebrated his first career double on Saturday against the Titans.
CRONULLA: Briton Nikora
The Keebra Park product was always overlooked because he was too small as he came through the ranks. Boy were they wrong. Nikora has been dynamite on the Sharks right edge.
GOLD COAST: Bryce Cartwright
After his troubles the past two years, there was a very real thought that Cartwright’s career was done and dusted – coach Garth Brennan even asked if he wanted to quit. The 24-year-old worked overtime in the pre-season and has picked up his level significantly to be one of the better Titans players so far.
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MAN LY: Brendan Elliot
The utility back is the definition of a journeyman having never nailed down a regular spot at the Roosters, Knights or Titans. But in the absence of injured star Tom Trbojevic, Elliot has done a fine job as part of a Manly group punching above their weight.
MELBOURNE: Ryan Papenhuyzen
There are so many known quantities in Craig Bellamy’s squad but this guy is one who was not. The fullback showed some electrifying touches in the Storm’s demolition of Parramatta and did not disappoint in his first starting opportunity on Thursday night.
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NEWCASTLE: Herman Ese’ese
Here’s our first flop. Ese’ese has always shown plenty of promising signs and was somewhat expected to be a leader of the Knights pack as their rebuild reaches its climax. Instead, he is battling to get a run at all and has yet to play more than 31 minutes in a game this year.
NEW ZEALAND: Lachlan Burr
Where has this come from? After 24 games across the Bulldogs and Titans finishing 2016 and then a difficult season in England, Burr worked as a full-time carpenter last year. Suddenly he has locked down the Warriors’ No.13 jersey and shown an excellent work rate along the way.
NORTH QUEENSLAND: Jordan McLean
For the second straight season, the Cowboys are in the midst of an underwhelming season and some of the blame has to be apportioned to their star-studded pack, who failed to fire a shot while Jason Taumalolo was sidelined. McLean seems to be struggling to make an impact.
PARRAMATTA: Reed Mahoney
The diminutive hooker is just 19 games into his career but could even be a Maroons bolter given the lack of No.9 options around. Is an absolute tackling machine – he has passed the 50 mark on multiple occasions including a 64-tackle effort in Round 7.
PENRITH: James Maloney
Maloney’s knack of getting teams to the grand final – as he did at the Warriors, Roosters and Sharks – is in grave danger of coming to an end. The Panthers are in a mess and their star man has possibly played himself out of a Blues jersey he had firm hold of last year.
SOUTH SYDNEY: Cameron Murray
Opposite to Maloney, Murray may just have played his way into a NSW Origin spot. The 21-year-old has had big wraps on him for a while but has really stood up upon being entrusted with the No.13 jersey – a move that saw Sam Burgess switch to the second-row.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA: Corey Norman
Questions surrounded his future amid a disastrous 2018 with the Eels but he has bounced back at the Red V. Norman showed his matchwinning ability with clutch field goals in successive weeks against the Broncos and Knights; his cheekbone fracture is now really hurting the Dragons.
SYDNEY: Siosiua Taukeiaho
Holy dooley. Forget Dylan Napa, this guy is proving a more than worthy front-row partner for Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. The 108kg machine was averaging 176 running metres before a quiet Round 10 game against the Broncos.
WESTS TIGERS: Chris McQueen
Another great comeback story. The ex-Queensland forward never saw coming just how hard the road back from neck surgery would be, but under his premiership-winning Rabbitohs mentor Michael Maguire, he has managed to secure a second-row starting role in the past month.
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