The start of the Toyota Cup shone a new light in he NRL’s face. As years have progressed, the number of young, talented players who ‘graduate’ through the Under 20s competition to play in the NRL has boomed.
In 2008, the inaugural year of the Toyota Cup, 45 players had played in the NRL. In 2009, 54 players had played in the NRL; while last year, in 2010, 58 players had played in the NRL.
From last year’s Toyota Cup Team of the Year, five players had already played first grade.
Now, in the upcoming first round of the NRL, 82 of the 272 players playing on the weekend have played in the Toyota Cup.
Every side has at least two past players playing for them.
Here are the big named players:
Broncos: Josh Hoffman and Jharl Yow Yeh
Bulldogs: Ben Barba and Jamal Idris
Cowboys: James Tamou and Ray Thompson
Dragons: Trent Merrin and Kyle Stanley
Eels: Mitchell Allgood and Etu Uaisele
Knights: Beau Henry and Joel Edwards
Panthers: Lachlan Coote and Sandor Earl
Rabbitohs: Dylan Farrell and Chris Sandow
Raiders: Josh Dugan and Jarrod Croker
Roosters: Kane Linnett and Martin Kennedy
Sea Eagles: Tony Williams, Jamie Buhrer
Sharks: Nathan Gardner and Wade Graham
Storm: Matt Duffie and Gareth Widdop
Titans: Kevin Gordon and Bodene Thompson
Warriors: Ben Matulino and Steve Rapira
West Tigers: Robert Lui and Blake Ayshford
This shows how successful the Toyota Cup has become in just its fourth season.
It brings new hope for the participants who will take part every Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday, pushing themselves to reach the first grade squad.
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