Will Hopoate – Eels
He’s only 21, he hasn’t played in the NRL for two seasons,
and yet he’s already won a premiership and played State of Origin where he
scored a try on debut as the second youngest player to ever play for NSW. Now
after his two year Mormon mission, he returns to the NRL having left a Manly
outfit that was on top of the NRL he now joins a team that has claimed back to
back wooden spoons and last made the top 8 when Hopoate had not even entered
first grade. For Elder Will Hopoate, he was unable to watch the horrid last two
seasons the Eels have endured, accessing media isn’t permitted throughout his
mission. But according to the Eels strength and conditioning team, it’s all
systems go for Hoppa. He has the potential to be one of the truly elite players
in the game, big, strong, fast, skilled, a great leader and he has his head
very firmly screwed on. The Eels are going to be turning to him often so he’s
going to be seeing plenty of ball and plenty of opportunities to show his skill
surrounded by a young and improving Eels backline cast.
Elijah Taylor – Panthers
After three seasons and 67 appearances for the Warriors, the
23 year old Kiwi international makes his way to Penrith to join past coach Ivan
Cleary and the Panthers. Taylor’s 2012 campaign got off to a rocky start
playing at hooker in place of the injured Nathan Friend and also doing a stint
off the bench, but once he was shifted back to a more natural spot of lock,
Taylor blossomed. A fantasy NRL players dream, Taylor has a huge motor and eats
up a tremendous number of tackles while also having a good level head and a few
nifty skills with the ball to go with it. Taylor brings a no nonsense, workman
like approach to the field and should continue to improve if he is afforded
some stability in his selection to make the Penrith 13 jersey his own. If that
happens, expect a lot of people to start taking a lot more notice of Taylor
than they have in the past with Penrith likely drawing a lot of spotlight this
season. He is a player that you can trust to bring it all every week, a former
Toyota Cup captain, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Taylor grow
into a great captain in first grade as well.
Adam Reynolds – Rabbitohs
I’ve chewed many peoples ears about this guy and that won’t
be stopping anytime soon. As far as I’m concerned, Adam Reynolds is already the
third best player wearing the number 7 in the NRL behind only Cooper Cronk and
Daly Cherry-Evans. The 2012 NRL rookie of the year and leading points scorer,
Reynolds made an immediate impact in the top grade helping lead the Bunnies
resurgence to being one of the elite teams in the competition. Reynolds toolset
is excellent, his short and long range kicking is precise and he’s a master of
helping the Bunnies earn repeat sets. He’s not a big bloke at 173 and 85kg but
he’s as hearty and tough as anyone else on the field. For years NSW have cried
out for a long term solution in the halves, making futile changes year after
year with no success, it’s time for Reynolds to be given the keys. In this his third
year I expect him to continue to evolve, to continue to prove that he should be
mentioned whenever the top halfbacks are being discussed and to show that he is
the Blues halfback of the future.
Ben Barba – Broncos
We all know the ability of Barba. 2012 leading try scorer,
Fullback of the Year, Provan-Summons medal winner, Peter Frilingos headline
moment of the year and, most importantly, the Dally M medal winner. In 2012 Ben
Barba was the toast of Rugby League, playing the best football we’d seen since
Jarryd Hayne’s magical 2009 season, every minute he was on the field was can’t
miss football you never knew what was going to come out of his bag of tricks
next as he helped lead the Bulldogs to the Grand Final. Fast forward to 2012
and Barba’s radiant light was reduced to a mere flicker. Stood down
indefinitely to begin the season while he entered a facility to assist him with
gambling and alcohol issues, his family life fell apart in the public eye
amongst plenty of rumour and speculation, and to make matters worse when Barba
returned to the field he was hampered by injuries. At just 24, Barba now joins
the Broncos, closer to home with presumably a clearer head and hopefully
recovered from his injury woes. He may not quite hit the dizzying heights of 2012,
to play at that level was never going to be sustainable, but I expect Barba to
spring back to being one of the real treats to watch in the NRL.
Greg Inglis – Rabbitohs
Well everyone will predict this one, but this is the man I
see winning the Dally M unless injuries get in his way. Greg Inglis is the
LeBron James of the NRL, he’s the prototype of what the perfect Rugby League
player should be, scientists are trying to engineer another one of this guy.
195cm 105kg, lean, mean, fast, powerful and yet so talented that he’s won both
Five-eighth of the year and Fullback of the year while being the Queensland and
Australian centre and having the most tries in Origin history. At 27, we may
still be yet to see the peak of GI’s powers, and he’s no doubt going to have a
point to prove after his Rabbitohs flamed out in the playoffs. Whether you like
the Bunnies or not, whether you like Queensland or not, whether you like
Australia or not, try to enjoy the spectacle that is possibly the greatest
athlete to have ever played Rugby League.
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