NRL Round 1: Mal Meninga has Penrith’s Bryce Cartwright on his radar

AUSTRALIAN coach Mal Meninga has revealed the young star he’s looking forward to watching this weekend. Read his exclusive column!

Former NRL great and Queensland coach now Australian coach Mal Meninga was in Townsville for the QRL summer camp. Picture: Zak Simmonds

WITH his Kangaroos coaching hat on, there’s one player Mal Meninga is really looking forward to watching this weekend.

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE

THE Titans have the chance to begin a new era with their game against the Knights on Sunday.

After some dark days, the club now has the right people in place in the front office, the right coaching staff and some new players to start with a clean slate and put the troubled times behind them.

This is a big chance for the Titans to rebuild their brand.

No one expects them to win every week but NRL fans are looking for a positive air about the Titans in everything they do on and off the field.

This is a big chance for Neil Henry and the Titans to rebuild their brand. Picture: Glenn Hampson

I CAN DO WITHOUT

TOO many errors or controversies from the referees’ bunker would be a disaster, but I have high hopes the new system will be a success.

It is a world-standard technological innovation for a sporting code, and should help take the pressure and scrutiny off the man with the whistle.

At the end of the day, they still have to get the decisions right.

ON MY RADAR

WITH my Kangaroos coaching hat on, I’m really looking forward to watching Penrith’s Bryce Cartwright against my old club Canberra on Saturday.

I am very excited about the potential this guy brings to the table with his running and passing game, and his aggressive approach.

I think he could be a real standout for the Panthers. But hopefully not too good against the Raiders.

Penrith’s Bryce Cartwright is on the radar of Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga. Picture: Gregg Porteous

YOU MUST DELIVER

NORTH Queensland are in terrific shape for their title defence, probably the best of any team that has tried to defend a title in recent memory.

That is where the Cowboys’ biggest problem lies: There are no excuses this season.

The hardest thing in any sport is to be the frontrunner, being the one the rest are trying to take down.

Handling that pressure will be a test of character. I’m looking forward to getting a glimpse of where their heads are at against Cronulla on Saturday night.

Manly coach Trent Barrett has many new combinations to bed down. Picture: Adam Yip

SLOW BURNER

MANLY will start their new era against the Bulldogs on Friday night, and I expect they will find the going tough against former coach Des Hasler.

Manly fans should not lose heart if things do not go to plan in round one.

The Sea Eagles will get better every week.

They have so many new combinations to bed down, and practically a brand new spine this season with Kieran Foran moving on.

They may well look a bit scratchy against the Bulldogs, but I do not expect them to stay that way for long.

Originally published as NRL Round 1: Mal Meninga has Penrith’s Bryce Cartwright on his radar