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

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.

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.

[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473723640″]

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.

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.