NRL Nines 2020: The fringe players set to shine
The son of a league great, cousin of an Origin prop and a Jersey Flegg player of the year — check out the fringe first-graders hoping to make a name for themselves at the NRL Nines and hopefully become SuperCoach cheapies.
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The NRL Nines has a long tradition of unearthing talent, with the likes of Val Holmes, Kalyn Ponga, Jack Bird, Semi Radradra and Latrell Mitchell all using the tournament as a launching pad to higher honours.
Matt Logues reveals a host of fringe first-graders hoping to make a name for themselves in the shortened version of the game, which kicks off next weekend in Perth.
Keep an eye on these players, who might just become potential SuperCoach cheapie options for 2020!
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BRONCOS: Tesi Niu
The younger cousin of star Brisbane prop David Fifita, Niu has rugby league talent running through his blood lines.
The 18-year-old centre has speed to burn while he is big enough to cause the opposition nightmares in defence.
Niu excelled as a 16-year-old in Souths Logan's Auswide Bank Mal Meninga team before being promoted to the Intrust Super Cup last year.
He has also represented the Queensland under-18s while he played for Tonga against Great Britain last year.
There are a number of players still above him in the pecking order, but he could be one to watch for SuperCoach in the future.
RAIDERS: Harley Smith-Shields
The reigning Canberra Jersey Flegg player of the year is a classy centre blessed with impressive pace and size. Smith-Shields excelled in the under-20s ranks for the Raiders last season before stepping up to the Canterbury Cup competition.
He immediately impressed, with six tries in just seven games for Mounties.
Smith-Shields is in Canberra’s top 30 squad and has an eye on making his NRL debut at some stage in 2020. With the departures of Joey Leilua, Jordan Rapana and question marks over recruit Curtis Scott, there is a good chance we see Smith-Shields in first grade, which would make him an interesting cheapie option.
BULLDOGS: Jake Averillo
Averillo is one of the most exciting talents seen at Canterbury in recent years.
The versatile talent can play fullback, centre and in the halves but he is best suited in the centres. Averillo starred in Canterbury’s SG Ball side last season with eight tries and 53 goals.
The Moorebank Rams junior has been a member of the Bulldogs’ development and pathway programs, while he also spent two years with the club’s youth high performance program.
Averillo was identified as a youngster to watch by Bulldog forward Adam Elliott after impressing through the preseason.
STORM: Cooper Johns
The son of Newcastle legend turned respected commentator, Matthew Johns, has an incredibly bright future in the game.
Cooper has significantly benefited from being in the Storm system under master mentor Craig Bellamy.
Those within Melbourne’s ranks believe junior Johns is edging closer to making his NRL debut.
For now, though, Cooper possesses the skills and speed to thrive on the Nines stage and should be avoided in SuperCoach for now.
KNIGHTS: Jirah Momoisea
He has the rugby league world at his giant-sized feet, but Momoisea only started playing footy three years ago. The South Auckland-born prop grew up playing rugby union and idolising All-Blacks legend Richie McCaw.
Momoisea joined the Knights in 2018 from Melbourne and has proven his worth with barnstorming displays up front. He played 20 Canterbury Cup games for the Knights last season, scoring two tries and amassing 1771 running metres.
COWBOYS: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
This 18-year-old Matt Bowen clone at fullback who represented the Australian schoolboys last year has the ability to become a star. Tabuai-Fidow was snapped up by North Queensland after starring playing rugby union for Brisbane Grammar School in 2017.
After signing with the Cowboys, he returned home to Cairns for a stint with the under-18s Northern Pride side in 2018.
He then moved to Townsville last year to attend Kirwan State High School, and scored 13 tries in just six Mal Meninga Cup games for the Townsville Blackhawks. Tabuai-Fidow has been promoted to a Cowboys development contract for 2020 and seems likely to play first grade at some point, so keep an eye on him as a SuperCoach cheapie prospect.
PANTHERS: Daine Laurie
After starring in the lower grades for Penrith, Laurie is ready to prove his worth on the NRL stage. The 20-year-old utility back claimed the club’s Jersey Flegg player of the year award in 2018 as the junior Panthers just fell short of a premiership.
Laurie progressed to Penrith’s Jersey Flegg ranks last season while he also played Canterbury Cup.
As a result he has been promoted to the Panthers NRL development list for the 2020 and 2021 seasons and is currently ineligle to play first grade. “Daine is blessed with natural ability, reads the game well and has a knack of finding the try line," Penrith recruitment Manager Jim Jones told the club’s website.
RABBITOHS: Jaxson Paulo
After failing to progress during his stint at the Gold Coast Titans, Paulo appears to have found his feet with South Sydney. He joined the Rabbitohs midway through last season and has impressed the coaching staff with his ability and work ethic.
Paulo can play in the centres or on the wing, which will only enhance his chances of making his NRL debut in 2020. The Nerang Roosters junior who was born in New Zealand weighs in at 101 kilos, so he has the size to match his speed.
ROOSTERS: Asu Kepaoa
Watch for this Kiwi-born outside back to excel on the Nines stage if given the chance.
Kepaoa impressed in the Roosters’ Harold Matthews side in 2018 before being elevated to the Jersey Flegg and the Canterbury Cup ranks last season. He scored five tries and ran for 2347 metres in his 14 Cup appearances for the North Sydney Bears. Kepaoa is perfectly suited to the Nines given his speed.
SEA EAGLES: Tevita Funa
A versatile outside back with speed to burn, Funa is one of Manly’s most exciting young prospects. The 22-year-old Guildford junior is a strong goal-kicker and was one of the standout players in the Sea Eagles’ winning the U20s premiership in 2017.
Funa is enjoying his first season in the NRL squad and has potential SuperCoach cheapie written all over him
DRAGONS: Cody Ramsey
They call him “Jesus” and he might just prove to be the fullback saviour the Dragons need.
Also dubbed “Bjorn Borg” thanks to his long hair and match-day head tape, Cody Ramsey is the young gun in line to replace Matt Dufty as St George Illawarra’s No.1.
The reigning Paul McGregor medallist for Under 20s player of the year, Ramsey was last year promoted to the full-time training squad for his first NRL pre-season.
A speedster with a step and an attacking highlights package that has gone viral on YouTube, the 21-year-old is in line to earn a full-time deal after impressing during his pre-season stint.
Ramsey could end up bolting his way into the NRL with the future of Dragons fullback Dufty far from resolved.
-James Phelps
TIGERS: Jock Madden
If this guys rugby league pedigree is anything to go by, then he is destined for a long and successful career. The crafty five-eighth/halfback is the great nephew of Maitland league legend Don ‘Bandy’ Adams who played for NSW Country Firsts in 1955, 1956 and 1958, NSW Firsts in 1955 and for the Kangaroos in 1956 at home on their 1956-57 tour against Great Britain and France.
Madden joined the Tigers on a development contract in 2019 after starring for the Newcastle Knights in the SG Ball ranks. He finished as the competition’s leading point scorer with 146 points, which resulted in him being rewarded with NSW under 18s and Australian Schoolboys selection. The Scone Thoroughbreds junior played seven Canterbury Cup games for the Wests Magpies last season, scoring 3 tries and kicking 15 goals.
-Matt Logue
SHARKS: Teig Wilton
The back-rower from Narooma on the NSW south coast has an incredibly bright future.
After excelling in the Sharks’ junior ranks, Wilton starred in the Canterbury Cup ranks for Newtown last year as the Jets claimed the NSW premiership and the State Championship double. He also captained the NSW under-20s last year and his versatility will perfectly suit the Nines format.
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Originally published as NRL Nines 2020: The fringe players set to shine