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I am not entirely convinced that Canberra’s Anthony Milford has the 2013 Rookie of the Year award headed for his trophy cabinet.
This has been a fantastic year for young bloods in the NRL and the Dally M judges are going to have their work cut out sifting through a highly impressive list of contenders.
Indeed, the flashy Milford has been very good for the Raiders in a number of positions and looks to be heading towards superstardom – be it at Canberra or Brisbane.
He has the rare gift of being able to change direction without losing speed, and his acceleration is dazzling to say the least.
When the judges meet, Milford will be near the top of their list for sure but quality rookies have emerged all throughout the NRL competition.
I’d like to mention the one who have caught my eye:
Melbourne’s Tohu Harris has been a standout in his first NRL season. He has made a huge impact for the premiers and even made his Test debut for New Zealand at the tender age of 21. He is set for a wonderful future.
At Brisbane, regular back-rower Corey Oates impressed when called up as an emergency centre. He is big, strong and eager for action. The Broncos have a rising star in this young guy.
The Bulldogs have a brilliant young front-rower on the rise in former Australian Schoolboys rep David Klemmer. I have watched a lot of him in the lower grade and his potential is unlimited.
At the Roosters, Isaac Lui has been terrific at prop and second-row and has the skills to develop into a wrecking ball. He hits extremely hard in defence and has excellent skills with the ball in hand.
Peter Hiku, another Kiwi, has done a great job for coach Geoff Toovey and the Manly team. After playing his early football in the New Zealand Warriors system, he has really excelled as a fill-in fullback for Brett Stewart at the Sea Eagles. He also plays well at centre and five-eighth.
The Panthers have introduced a number of outstanding young players to the big time this year but none have been better than fullback Matt Moylan and hard-hitting back-rower Adam Docker. I feel these guys will be first grade stars for years to come.
Anthony Don is much older than most of the players mentioned in today’s column. The gifted Gold Coast winger is a late-bloomer but I like his style.
Another winger/centre on the way up is Cronulla’s Sosaia Feki, a Junior Kiwi rep who has been great for the Sharkies.
Adam Quinlan, the St George-Illawarra utility back, is a youngster with enormous potential who I expect will develop into a top-liner.
At Newcastle, good judges are excited over hooker Adam Clydsdale and are convinced their number nine jumper will be in great hands when veterans Danny Buderus and Craig Gower call it a day. The former NSW Under 16s rake oozes confidence at dummy half and could be a NRL gun for years to come.
South Sydney coach Michael Maguire brought two standouts into his top grade this year – centre Dylan Walker and halfback Luke Keary. Walker has the skills set to develop into a top-flight rep player while the Ipswich-born Keary is a jack-in-the-box type who makes (and scores) tries with the greatest of ease.
It has been a dreadful season for the Wests Tigers but all is not lost as two brilliant youngsters Jack Buchanan (prop) and winger David Nofoaluma have taken their first NRL steps. Buchanan arrived at the Tigers via Canterbury and St George-Illawarra while try-merchant Nofoaluma is a product from the club’s prolific Campbelltown nursery.
The Cowboys are enthused at the ability shown by rookie forward Ethan Lowe as are the Warriors with robust winger Ngani Laumape, a former New Zealand schoolboys rugby union star.
And that leaves Parramatta, whose ordinary season has contained two major plusses.
I refer to utility forward Peni Terepo and second-rower Kelepi Tanginoa, two exceptional young players who look like being shining lights for many seasons to come.
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