The 27 pathways rookies on fast track to NRL debuts | positional breakdown

From the brother of the game’s best player to the son of a current NRL coach, and a ready-made Kalyn Ponga replacement - these are the prodigies ready to make their first grade debuts.

The road to the NRL can often be a long and difficult one, but some players have the talent to move into the fast lane and rocket their way through pathways and the lower grades to the top level.

The influx of players making the jump to stardom in their rookie season this year has been momentous, with none better than Sydney Roosters centre Robert Toia who made his Queensland Origin debut after just 10 NRL games.

Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Matty Nicholson and Hugo Savala headline a list of players who have made their debuts in 2025, but there are plenty more busting down the door.

After this masthead correctly predicted nine players - Liam Ison, Isaiah Iongi, Casey McLean, Savelio Tamale, Jordan Miller, De La Salle Va’a, Matt Arthur, Ryley Smith and Blake Steep - to debut last year, we reveal the Gen Next ready to barge their way into the NRL.

We’ve picked three players in each position set to charge their way from NSW/Qld Cups and Jersey Flegg (under-21s) into the big time.

NRL rookies set to make it big in first grade.

FULLBACK: Connor Votano (Newcastle NSW Cup), Taj Ford (Sharks Jersey Flegg), Taye Cochrane (Bulldogs Jersey Flegg)

It’s going to be a tough gig to get around Kalyn Ponga at Newcastle, but Connor Votano is quickly proving a good injury option if the Knights are in need of a fullback fixer. The natural No.1 is also a strong goal kicker and excellent out of the back field.

Sharks youngster Taj Ford spent time in the halves, but the ball-playing fullback is best suited to sweeping out the back. While Cronulla have plenty of depth in the outside backs, injuries have stunted them in recent years, meaning the door for Ford could be wide open.

Canterbury’s Taye Cochrane has been with the Bulldogs for some time now, and while small in size, he makes up for it with his livewire nature on the field. A very different style of player to Connor Tracey, Cochrane would wreak havoc on defensive lines with his constant probing for holes.

Newcastle's Connor Votano. Pic: NRL

WINGER: Jed Stuart (Raiders NSW Cup), Tom Rodwell (Roosters NSW Cup), Tevita Naufahu (Dolphins Qld Cup)

Having been 18th man multiple times for Canberra this year, Jed Stuart is just inches away from making his NRL debut. A fast and dynamic winger, the son of coach Ricky Stuart has been highly touted throughout the past four seasons at the Raiders.

The Rodwell family has a huge presence at the Roosters, and Tom - the older brother of exciting Tricolours playmaker Toby - may just be the next in line. The 23-year-old has been around for a long time and is finally looking like making his NRL debut. He crashed over for four tries in the Round 13 win over Canberra.

Scoring eight tries from his first eight games in Qld Cup, Tevita Naufahu has quickly established himself as a try-scoring machine. Electric from the back field, Naufahu averages over 130 running metres per game according to Code Sports Stats.

Tom Rodwell of the Roosters.

CENTRE: Michael Gabrael (Sharks Jersey Flegg/NSWCup), Richard Penisini (Eels Jersey Flegg), Nicholas Tsougranis (Dragons, NSW Cup)

The position with the most chance of debuting all of these players this year, centre has become a rolling carousel at most clubs.

Initially a Bulldog, Michael Gabrael moved to Cronulla for a quicker route to first grade, and he may just get it. The 20-year-old has played nine games at centre for the Newtown Jets this year, scoring seven tries and averaging 120 running metres.

Highly regarded by Parramatta, coach Jason Ryles has been hesitant to blood Richard Penisini, but his form may prove too good to keep him out. The young star and brother of NRL centre Will has shared time between Flegg and Cup and has already proven he’s more than capable of holding his own in first grade.

Initially a back rower, Nicholas Tsougranis has transitioned nicely into the outside backs where he has been lethal for the Dragons in the NSW Cup. A tackling machine, the St George junior has also made a habit of finding the line in attack, scoring four tries from his six games at centre.

FIVE-EIGHTH: Jake Elliott (Roosters Jersey Flegg/NSW Cup), Stanley Huen (Storm Jersey Flegg), Nicholas Quinn (Rabbitohs Jersey Flegg)

One of many young halves coming through the ranks at the Roosters, Jake Elliott has been a mainstay throughout the club’s junior ranks and is on the same trajectory as the likes of NRL halves Sandon Smith and Hugo Savala.

Storm gun Stanley Huen is moving closer to an NRL debut after being a part of Melbourne’s extended squad throughout the season. The Queensland under-19s representative was able to jag three pre-season challenge matches and looked electric early in his Flegg season.

Nicholas Quinn looked as though he would be a Dragon forever, but the running five-eighth has found a home as captain of South Sydney’s Flegg squad and appears a good long-term option for the club.

Stanley Huen of the Storm.

HALFBACK: Joey Walsh (Manly NSW Cup) , Latrell Siegwalt (Broncos Qld Cup feeder), Jett Cleary (Warriors NSW Cup)

Latrell Siegwalt has proven in the lower grades for Souths Logan that he is more than capable of bringing some much needed spark to the Broncos at NRL level. Despite Siegwalt playing most of Queensland Cup footy at fullback, we think his dynamic running game will be best displayed at halfback. He looks a natural first receiver and has blinding pace off the mark that would make him a huge threat with the ball at any level.

He will do a longer apprenticeship with Jamal Fogarty coming to Manly in 2026, but Joey Walsh is among the Sea Eagles’ long-term halves options. Progressing through the grades, Walsh has started to experience footy against men, and will be blooded in the NRL sooner rather than later.

Taking a bit more time to blossom than his brother, Jett Cleary has quickly shown he has elite capabilities very few possess in the NRL. A similar playing style to older brother Nathan, Jett has a great long-kicking game, and knows when to take the line on. It’s only a matter of time before we see a third Cleary grace first grade rugby league.

Emerging playmaker Latrell Seigwalt with a nice try assist.

PROP: Jack Underhill (Bulldogs NSW Cup), Fanafou Seve (Roosters Jersey Flegg), Jake Clydsdale (Raiders NSW Flegg)

A position that has transformed over time, the next batch of front rowers may be some of the best yet. Jack Underhill has starred for the Bulldogs since arriving from the Sunshine Coast just a few years back, and is on the verge of an NRL debut. The dynamic front-rower is the definition of a work horse, and a two-time Jersey Flegg Cup premiership winner.

One the Bulldogs let go, Fanafou Seve has been a powerhouse since joining the Roosters, rampaging through defensive lines on the regular. A true enforcer, Seve won’t be far off joining the Rooster monster NRL pack.

Stashed away in Canberra’s Jersey Flegg side is yet another prop forward with an enormous frame and even more enormous potential - the 20-year-old jake Clydsdale.

At two metres tall and 117kg, Clydsdale is the next man up in a generation of monster mobile front rowers - he has the motor to play massive minutes with a high work rate, and has proven almost impossible to stop when close to the line (five tries this season across Flegg and Cup).

Fanafou Seve is a wreckingball.

HOOKER: Jai Camilleri (Sharks Jersey Flegg), Reuben Moyle (Bulldogs NSW Cup), Zaidas Muagututia (Manly NSW Cup)

While hooker is usually a position in which player take years to hone their, these three prospects have quickly shown they are a touch above the rest.

Jai Camilleri switched the west of Parramatta for the beaches of Cronulla and quickly made it look like a masterstroke. Struggling to get a run with the blue and gold, Camilleri has been a star for the Sharks since his arrival earlier this year, and one to lock down long term.

Reuben Moyle has been a consistent presence for the Bulldogs throughout the junior age groups for some time, and with movements in the hooking role at Belmore, his time in the top grade will be very soon.

A position which Manly have not had security in a long time, Zaidas Muagututia has quickly risen as a front runner as a long term rake option at the club. The Manly reserve grade hooker has moved from SG Ball all the way to the starting Cup hooker in the span of a few months.

Zaidas Muagututia's incredible try assist.

SECOND ROW: James Walsh (Dolphins Qld Cup), Phoenix Godinet (Tigers SG Ball U-19s), Lajuan Vito (Sharks Jersey Flegg)

Although having a lot of similarities to the centre position, second-row is becoming a specialty position in the forwards.

James Walsh has been highly touted prospect for a long time at the Dolphins, and he looks destined to get his chance with an injury or two.

Phoenix Godinet, despite being a teenager, is one of the most damaging players coming through the ranks at the Tigers and is destined for an early NRL debut.

Lajuan Vito, a new recruit for the Sharks has carried through his good form from the Bulldogs to his new club, fitting in nicely with the team gunning for the Flegg premiership this year.

Wests Tigers rising star Phoenix Godinet. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

LOCK: Finau Latu (Dragons NSW Cup), Sam McCulloch (Sharks Jersey Flegg), Myles Martin (Raiders NSW Cup)

Bulldogs-bound Finau Latu has been on the fringe for the last few years, but the lock is on the verge of making his way to the NRL. The hard-running middle should get his time before he leaves the Dragons, with their forward rotation experiencing a lot of movement in the first half of their year.

Sam McCulloch was a standout in last year’s Flegg grand final, and continued his good form into 2025. The ball-playing lock has been the benchmark of his Sharks team for the last couple of years, showing real leadership and workhorse qualities.

A tough breed of middle, Myles Martin is a throwback to some of the tougher locks the game has to offer.

Originally published as The 27 pathways rookies on fast track to NRL debuts | positional breakdown