Morgan
SGI NSW Cup
At first I considered it absolute nonsense so didn't bother with it but then when you think about it with a cool head, our hooker is near the end of his career and was never "a star". 2 are teenagers. One is also in the twilight of his career but was very good last year and in the trials. But bought into the off season hype and tried to do too much in round 1.
Anyway, here's the list:
9. Cronulla Sharks – William Kennedy, Braydon Trindall, Nicholas Hynes, Brayden Brailey
Kennedy was the best player last year in Cronulla and reminds me of a David Peachey. Trindall has flashed at times but I am still not convinced he is a starting five-eighth in the league. Hynes shone at fullback. He moves to halfback. He didn’t look like he missed a beat in the All Stars game and trials but that is still not enough to prove himself to be an out an out halfback. Brailey has shown some promise. I am still waiting for him to really stamp his mark. This could be a breakout year for him. He has a good pack to play behind.
8. New Zealand Warriors – Reece Walsh, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Shaun Johnson, Wayde Egan
Walsh is a no doubt a superstar in the making. He is an exciting prospect who stood out in only a few games. Harris-Tavita is a player that can really be one of the better players in his position. He is a good defender but is yet to do that. He could lose his spot to Kodi Nikorima. Johnson coming off some serious injuries but he is a playmaking wizard who creates something out of nothing. Egan isn’t a dynamic rake but gets the job done. The Warriors could be a finals team if they had a better hooker.
7. Canberra Raiders – Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jack Wighton, Jamal Fogarty, Josh Hodgson
Nicoll-Klokstad is a tireless worker who is a great metre eater and support player. He may not be the most skilful but makes up for that in toughness. Wighton was the Dally M player of the year two years ago. He is a damaging ball runner. He had a down year in 2021 but I am confident he can return to form, which makes him elite. Fogarty is unfortunately hurt. He was the type of player needed to make Wighton play his game, which will improve the team dramatically. Hodgson has struggled with injury as of late but can be the best hooker in the NRL if he returns to the earlier form. He needs to go back to his best for Canberra to have a comeback season. If not, he may be replaced by Tom Starling.
6. South Sydney Rabbitohs – Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Lachlan Ilias, Damien Cook
Mitchell is a superstar who has the ability to be given the ball and run over someone to set up or score a try. He needs to control his aggression but there is no doubt he is one of the best players in NRL. Walker has the best footy instincts. He is the definition of heads-up footy. He will have a myriad of try assists. I am unsure if he can flourish without Adam Reynolds. Ilias is a rookie pretty much and I am yet to see if he can steady the ship to allow Mitchell and Walker to do what they do best. Cook’s spark from dummy half provides a constant threat to tired forwards. He hasn’t excelled like I thought with the introduction of the new rules.
5. Manly Sea Eagles – Tom Trbojevic, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Lachlan Croker
What more needs to said about Trbojevic. He is the reigning Dally M Medal winner. From tackle busts, try assists and line breaks, he is a true game breaker and he is the best player in the NRL. Manly are pretty average without him. Foran is well past his best, maybe due to his list of horrid injuries. He still does a serviceable job. I would love to see him run the ball more. Cherry-Evans is the Australian halfback. He has great awareness, he has a great kicking game and he knows how to lead a side around the park. He provides a great foil for Trbojevic. Croker has done okay as a makeshift hooker but doesn’t offer much. If Manase Fainu can return, they would be a much more dangerous team.
4. Sydney Roosters – James Tedesco, Sam Walker, Luke Keary, Sam Verrills
Tedesco is a superstar fullback who has been elite for number of seasons. He runs like a pinball, bouncing off defenders. He added a pass. He is truly one of the league’s best. Walker started his career on fire and fizzled at the end. He is still young and has high a ceiling. I am interested to see how he goes with Keary. He added some much needed size so he won’t be a liability in defence. Keary is a genuine star half who was sorely missed last year. He kicks well and he has a smart footy brain. He knows how to create an overlap. He will add so much to his team. Verrills has been okay without being good but doesn’t have to be – just give good service to Tedesco and Verrills will do his job.
3. Penrith Panthers – Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Apisai Koroisau
Edwards is a safe and reilabe fullback who isn’t fast, doesn’t have good ball skills and doesn’t really create anything. He doesn’t have a wow factor like the majority of fullbacks in NRL but will give you a decent game consistently. Imagine how good the Panthers would be if they kept Daine Laurie. Luai provides a potent one-two punch with Cleary. He has a great dummy and run. He is a dynamic runner. He does look lost without Cleary. Speaking of Cleary, he is the best halfback in the league. He is the total package. He has a running game. He is a strong defender. He has a kicking game and high IQ. Koroisau is a savvy operator who can sniff a lazy defender and exploit them. When he is on, the Panthers are difficult to beat.
2. Parramatta Eels – Clinton Gutherson, Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses, Reed Mahoney
Gutherson may not be a quick or imposing force but makes up for it with high energy and smart ball playing. He just manages to create chances. He is super fit so he is always making crucial plays late in games. Brown had a down year last year attack-wise but I have seen how special he is. He can manipulate a line with silky moves to create space out wide. He is also by the best defensive half in the NRL. He had a defensive rating of 96. No other half is in the 90s. If he can get more ball, coupled with his defence, he can be an elite five-eighth. Moses is the fastest halfback. He also has the best long kicking game. He has really matured lately and is one of the best halfbacks in the NRL. Mahoney’s service from dummy half is incredible. He is a stout defender and a handy kicker, plus he has added running from dummy half. I can’t believe the Eels let someone as good and young as him go for next year.
1. Melbourne Storm – Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant
Papenhuyzen is an electrifying fullback who is always lurking for a try. His speed is such a threat up the the middle. Munster had a disappointing year by his standards but looks fit and this year he is a powerful ball runner and a big game player. He can be the best five-eighth when he is on. He looks like a different man. It is an ominous sign for the other 15 clubs. Hughes maybe doesn’t have the best kicking game but he is an incredible ability to make line breaks for himself or others. His ball playing is special. He was their best last season. Imagine if he goes to another level with a rejuvenated Munster. It’s unfair the best hooker last year is not best hooker on his team. As Grant is a one-of-a-kind type of player, he has a rare ability to spot little openings and make a half chance a try. He is really crafty and passes well from dummy half. Add in Brandon Smith – the Dally M hooker of the year, who surges from dummy half and puts defences on the back foot – and it is a scary combo to have.
