Most important player at every NRL club during State of Origin period
State of Origin is a highlight of the NRL calendar every year, but depleted rosters mean players are forced to step up to ensure seasons aren’t derailed. We reveal your club’s most important player during the Origin period.
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Young guns getting their first shot, unwanted players desperately being recalled to first grade, and the established stars needing to expand their roles.
State of Origin is a highlight of the NRL calendar every year, but depleted rosters mean players are forced to step up to ensure seasons aren’t derailed during the nine-week period.
This masthead has analysed your club’s most important player during the Origin period to ensure your team keeps firing.
Broncos – Ezra Mam
Origin selections:
– Patrick Carrigan (Qld)
– Payne Haas (NSW)
Even in his first game of the season, Mam’s importance was on full display last Sunday. And his club’s success is dependent on it. Without his two platform layers, Mam’s ability to play as a second receiver is key to the Broncos finding success during the Origin period. Brisbane’s front foot style will be heavily impacted without their front rowers, so it will be up to Mam to find gaps through disrupted play to close the hole left by Carrigan and Haas.
Bulldogs – Reed Mahoney
Origin selections:
– Stephen Crichton (NSW)
– Max King (NSW)
– Kurta Mann (Qld 18th man)
The Bulldogs have proven their young players are capable when called upon, and, with Crichton away on Origin duty, Mahoney will need to fill the leadership breach.
With the team losing two of the club’s heroes in King and Crichton, Mahoney has the tough job of maintaining standards and ensuring the club continues to head in the right direction.
Cowboys – Scott Drinkwater
Origin selections:
– Reuben Cotter (Qld)
– Jeremiah Nanai (Qld)
– Tom Dearden (Qld)
– Reece Robson (NSW)
With Cotter and Robson on Origin duties, and uncertainty around the Cowboys No.7 jersey, it will be up to Drinkwater to steer his team around the park. The livewire fullback has proved multiple times throughout his career that he is capable of changing the result of a game, and he will need to do so over the next nine weeks to keep the Cowboys on track.
Dolphins – Isaiah Katoa
Origin selections:
– Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Qld)
With only Tabuai-Fidow selected for the Dolphins, the club is in a good place to continue their push for their first finals appearance in their short history. Katoa has shown throughout the year that when the Dolphins are on, it’s off the back of his brilliant playmaking. He’s been touted as an Origin player in the making – this is his chance of showing it.
Dragons – Nathan Lawson
Origin selections:
– Valentine Holmes (Qld)
Another team that will barely be changed, Lawson has the ability to make his mark in a second code with Holmes returning to the Origin arena. Lawson, a rugby union export, is expected to slide in nicely to the Dragons side and will be a real strike weapon for them with ball in hand. With the veteran head of Holmes not there, Lawson will be thrust straight into the spotlight.
Eels – Dylan Brown
Origin selections:
– Zac Lomax (NSW)
– Mitchell Moses (NSW)
He had his chance last year and he failed miserably. Now he gets another crack. After struggling without Moses to start the year, all eyes are on the soon-to-be million-dollar man. Brown has the unique ability to swing what looked to be a dreaded season at the beginning of the year to jagging a few much-needed wins. It’s pivotal for Brown to step into the main playmaker role this time around for the Eels and put his stamp on a side without their leader in Moses.
Knights – Fletcher Sharpe
Origin selections:
– Kalyn Ponga (Qld)
No stranger to the fullback role, for the first time this year Newcastle fans will be able to see Sharpe in his preferred position, which is only positive signs for the young star. Sharpe’s ability to break defensive lines down could not come at a better time for the Knights as the team is desperate to score points. He is easily the Knights’ most important player during the Origin period as keeping their season alive depends on the young gun firing.
Panthers – Blaize Talagi
Origin selections:
– Dylan Edwards (NSW)
– Brian To’o (NSW)
– Nathan Cleary (NSW)
– Liam Martin (NSW)
– Isaah Yeo (c) (NSW)
He’s the creative five-eighth who’ll come under the microscope with five of Penrith’s biggest stars on Origin duties. We have seen Talagi show glimpses of his best in his short Panthers career, but structure will be out the window for the four-time premiers with the majority of their spine gone. The 20-year-old’s explosiveness and slick footwork will be the club’s best chance at points over the Origin period.
Rabbitohs – Cody Walker
Origin selections:
– Latrell Mitchell (NSW)
– Campbell Graham (NSW 18th man)
For the Rabbitohs, it’s all about leadership. Mitchell’s presence will be gone, but Cody Walker will be a welcome return from injury. Before his enforced sideline stint, the Rabbitohs were four from six, with his influence over the team unmatched. The veteran five-eighth has been missed and now it’s all on his shoulders to keep them on track for the finals.
Raiders – Noah Martin
Origin selections:
– Hudson Young (NSW)
He’s not starting, but Martin has a chance to fill a huge gap left by Young. One of the Raiders’ most touted prospects, Martin will provide a strong punch from the bench, which will be crucial for the Raiders edging out close wins.
Roosters – Dom Young
Origin selections:
– Lindsay Collins (Qld)
– Robert Toia (Qld)
– Angus Crichton (NSW)
– Connor Watson (NSW)
– Spencer Leniu (NSW)
Despite having a range of young forwards coming in, it’s the man who was unwanted only a few weeks ago, now the Roosters’ most pivotal heading into the next nine weeks. Forget the contract kerfuffle. There is no substitute for speed, and Young has it in abundance. Without the strike of Toia and Crichton, his ability to burn players on the outside suddenly becomes very important for the Roosters.
Sea Eagles – Tom Trbojevic
Origin selections:
– Daly Cherry-Evans (c) (Qld)
He was a fraction away from being picked for the Blues, now Trbojevic faces the reality that his only way in is through injury. The former Dally M medal winner will need to get back to his best, not only for himself but for Manly. Without their skipper, Trbojevic will not only have to perform well but lead his team around the park as their most senior player.
Sharks: Nicho Hynes
Origin selections:
– 0
The pressure is off, and it’s Hynes’ time to shine. It was at this time last year where his season fell off, but the lack of Origin presence at Cronulla is nothing but promising signs not only for the team, but Hynes’ form. After an impressive win against the Storm last week, Hynes and the Sharks are in the box seat to capitalise on some understrength clubs.
Storm – Tyran Wishart
Origin selections:
– Xavier Coates (Qld)
– Cameron Munster (Qld)
– Harry Grant (Qld)
– Trent Loiero (Qld)
Without Coates, Munster, Grant, and Loiero, Wishart’s versatility suddenly becomes one of the most important tools for the Storm. Like to slot into the halves in Munster’s absence, Wishart can increase his value with another strong display in an expanded role during Origin.
Tigers – Jarome Luai
Origin selections:
– 0
There are few more competitive and prouder players in the competition, and now Luai can show Blues selectors what they’re missing out on if he can lift a Tigers squad unaffected by Origin up the ladder during the representative period.
Titans – Kieran Foran
Origin selections:
– Moeaki Fotuaika (Qld)
– Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Qld)
– Beau Fermor (Qld)
It’s all about experience for the Titans, and they are in desperate need of Foran’s unrivalled smarts. Losing their captain in Fa’asuamaleaui has all eyes on Foran to guide the team out of the Origin period with a couple of handy wins. Foran must retake his place in the halves.
Warriors – Luke Metcalf
Origin selections:
– Mitchell Barnett (NSW)
He has been a superstar all year, but without Barnett and missing James Fisher-Harris, Metcalf has a new challenge ahead of him.
On their day, the Warriors have one of the best and most intimidating packs in the competition, which is a halves dream, but without them, it can quickly become a nightmare.
Metcalf will need to find ways to counter this if the Warriors are to continue their stellar start to the year.
Originally published as Most important player at every NRL club during State of Origin period
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