Darren Lockyer looks at the key players in each NRL team’s title charge
EACH NRL finals side possesses X-factor in their own way. Darren Lockyer looks at the eight wonders who must fire for their respective club to have any hope of winning the 2018 premiership.
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THE finals are upon us and this would have to be the tightest competition I have seen since the Wests Tigers embarked on their fairytale charge to win the 2005 decider.
The age-old mantra is that the big finals games are won upfront, and that’s true, but the eight remaining title contenders will also need a sprinkle of magic to hold aloft the Telstra Premiership.
Each side possesses X-factor in their own way. Here are the eight wonders who must fire for their respective club to have any hope of winning the 2018 premiership.
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MELBOURNE — Cameron Munster:
Melbourne are very good at grinding a game out, but they will need to find some points in the sudden-death games. Munster is that man. As he showed against the Titans last week, he is the one guy who can create something out of nothing. If Munster has a good September, the Storm will go a long way towards winning back-to-back premierships. Billy Slater is obviously a champion player but the Storm need another attacking spearhead and Munster is the key.
ROOSTERS — James Tedesco:
We saw during the Origin period this year that he relishes the big stage. If Tedesco is in the mood, the Roosters will be a huge threat to the premiership. I thought he was a little quiet last week against the Broncos and coach Trent Robinson must have issued a message because he was really dangerous in the second half. The Roosters look a different team when Tedesco is bouncing around and looking for the football.
SOUTHS — Damien Cook:
The Rabbitohs are in my eyes the team to beat for the premiership and that’s a by-product of Cook’s importance. If I am on the opposition team, I would be working overtime on video analysis looking at ways to minimise Cook’s dominance around the rucks. There’s no other hooker with his speed and when he takes off, he ignites the entire Rabbitohs backline.
CRONULLA — James Segeyaro:
The Sharks are largely a grinding team, but Segeyaro is their dynamo. Cronulla are renowned for their tough forward pack headlined by guys like Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Andrew Fifita, but Segeyaro’s thrust around dummy-half gives them another dimension. When Segeyaro is probing around the rucks, it opens up space for the likes of Matt Moylan and Valentine Holmes to attack.
DRAGONS — Tyson Frizell:
The Dragons need to get some energy back and Frizell is the man to provide it. St George Illawarra’s pack has lost some authority and their bigger men are looking tired after a long campaign including the Origin series. When they were playing well at the start of the year, their back-rowers were running hard on the edge. The Dragons need Frizell’s explosive running and his aggression in defence as well.
PENRITH — James Maloney:
He is a winner. Full stop. The Panthers have lost their way since the sacking of Anthony Griffin and they desperately need Maloney’s mongrel and experience to get them back on the rails. Maloney can potentially lose Penrith a game because there is an element of risk in his game, but if his calculated risks came off, they win the big games. Penrith can’t make the grand final without an in-form Maloney.
WARRIORS — Shaun Johnson:
He is brilliant and now he needs to show it on the biggest stage. The Warriors’ forwards have a responsibility to do their job and create a retreating defence for Johnson. Coach Steve Kearney has done well to bring a more disciplined, fitter dimension to the Warriors but they still need their strike-weapons to deliver points. If the Warriors can win that middle third, Johnson has the confidence to relish knocking out big-guns like Melbourne and Souths.
BRISBANE — Tevita Pangai Jr:
He is Brisbane’s version of Jason Taumalolo. There’s few teams in the finals series who possess an X-factor like Tevita. The Broncos are the most difficult to handle when they are creating second-phase in midfield, setting the platform for their quicker men like James Roberts, Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima. The Broncos have been using Pangai Jr in a multifaceted role, playing him on the edge before moving him into the middle during games. He is getting used to playing more minutes and his personality is suited to the big-game atmosphere. He can have a Taumalolo-like impact on these playoffs.
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Originally published as Darren Lockyer looks at the key players in each NRL team’s title charge
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