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Set of Six: Promising NRL youngsters to watch for this season

By Jarret Filmer
Brodie Croft: NOT a Home & Away bad boy (Photo: Getty Images)

Hardcore NRL fans know some of the best moments of the opening rounds are when the young players with superstar potential start to show their wares. Here are six who look set to make a big impact on the competition this season.

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1. Kalyn Ponga (Cowboys)

After a breathtaking cameo in last year’s finals series, Ponga followed up by signing a $3.6 million, four-year deal with the Newcastle Knights from the start of 2018 – a move that was met with some derision and skepticism. While Ponga’s contract situation might complicate his ability to get on the field for the Cowboys it’s hard to imagine that the boys from North Queensland, firmly in ‘win-now’ mode in the twilight of JT’s career, would let Ponga’s prodigious talents go to waste even if he is taking them to the Hunter Valley next season. It seems like likely that Ponga will get the nod to replace the injured Antonio Winterstein for the opening rounds of the comp and will have every opportunity to display his electrifying footwork and the game breaking-vision that could make him worth every dollar the Knights are shelling out.

2. Connor Watson (Roosters)

The Auckland Nines Player of the Tournament is the most experienced player on this list with 16 first grade caps already under his belt, but 2017 is looking like the year he really makes his mark. The Roosters have shored up several crucial positions with smart acquisitions which means Watson won’t be forced to shoulder too much of the playmaking burden and can instead make his presence felt from the interchange bench. Watson plays the sort of high-energy game perfectly suited to dismantling tiring defences and his blazing turn of speed is sure to embarrass some fatigued front rowers. If the Roosters new spine can develop some chemistry then Watson could provide the kind of X-factor the Tri-Colours haven’t had in years.

3. Luciano Leilua (Dragons)

The impressively-named Leilua was the subject of several big money offers from rival clubs late last year but knocked back his potential suitors to re-sign with the Dragons. The rangy second-rower (the younger brother of Canberra barnstormer BJ) will probably start the season on the bench for the Red V but will be given every opportunity to log some serious minutes for a club that looks likely to struggle this year. The Dragons are currently searching for an identity and Leilua represents the sort of dynamic talent a club can build around. With the Dragons suffering a horror run of pre-season injuries and still a year away from welcoming Ben Hunt the fans will need something to cheer about – Leilua might just be the ticket.

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4. Moses Suli (Tigers)

18-year-old Suli garnered big headlines earlier in the year for signing a three-year deal for $1.3 million despite having never played a first-grade game. While the recent track record of handing out massive contracts to unproven players is mixed (see: Filiga, Karl and Klemmer, David) Wests are hardly in a position to allow other clubs to poach their best talent. Suli, a rampaging winger or centre who has earned comparisons to Israel Folau, will be hoping that he can quiet discussion of his outsized contract by getting on the field sooner rather than later. Given the relative dearth of game breakers on the three-quarter line the Tigers will be banking on him to live up to the hype (and the contract). Comparing a young player to a singular talent like Folau can sometimes be the kiss of death but if Suli can live up to it then his burgeoning combination with Jamal Idris could prove beastly.

5. Brodie Croft (Storm)

Despite a name that makes him sound like the latest Home & Away bad-boy to give Alf Stewart some trouble, Croft is set to be the next big star to roll off the Melbourne Storm production line. With speculation that superstar Billy Slater will miss the opening rounds with an ongoing injury, Cameron Munster could find himself taking up the custodian’s mantle – leaving the five eighth’s spot outside Cooper Cronk up for grabs. Storm maestro Craig Bellamy has proven adept at manufacturing playmakers and Croft is already being hailed as a carbon copy of the Queensland halfback. Given Bellamy’s tutelage and his obvious natural gifts it will be a massive upset if Croft doesn’t make his presence felt – whether he manages to nail down a permanent spot in first grade might depend on Slater’s long-term fitness.

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6. Gideon Gela-Mosby (Cowboys)

Gela-Mosby might struggle to crack a North Queensland three-quarter line already bristling with accomplished finishers such as Kyle Feldt and Winterstein but if he can transfer his form from the Auckland Nines to the 13-man version of the game it will be hard for the Cowboys to deny him a shot. Gela-Mosby is an elite finisher, demonstrating almost superhuman body control to repeatedly dot down in the corner. It’s hard to imagine that consummate maestro Johnathan Thurston wouldn’t be excited about the possibility of having Gela-Mosby at the end of his backline – if he does manage to get a regular start in the top grade it seems likely that he’ll get plenty of chances to score. If he and Ponga manage to get on the field at the same time league fans will be in for a treat.

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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