These are the five players – outside of the obvious choices among the game’s biggest stars – that I’m most looking forward to seeing in action during the NRL finals series.
It’s a zone free of players like Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Jamie Soward and Shaun Johnson and instead concentrates on the next wave of stars coming through.
So here we go, in order of preference:
Konrad Hurrell (Warriors)
Did you notice how the Warriors have lost their spark while the powerhouse centre has been out injured? Not even the return from injury of Shaun Johnson has brought them back to life, but I’m tipping Hurrell’s return against Sydney Roosters on Sunday will do just that.
Hurrell has that belief in himself that convinces him he’s capable of doing anything on the field. If he can’t run around them, he’ll run straight through them, and then blow a kiss to the camera at the end, after he has touched down for a try. Hurrell is an excitement machine. If you don’t like him, you don’t like league.
Dylan Walker (Souths)
As much as centre is a position of strength for NSW at the moment, with players like Michael Jennings, Josh Morris and Josh Dugan around, I’m convinced Walker will play State of Origin for the Blues within two years.
Next year is a realistic possibility. As much as Walker is exhilarating to watch when he burns opponents with his awesome speed, the thing I like most about him is that he’s got mongrel.
He uses that in one-on-one battles, both when he has the ball and when he’s defending. He refuses to let anyone get the better of him physically and that attitude will take him a long way.
Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
He made his first-grade debut when he was barely 17, in 2010. People thought he would start routinely terrorising opponents a lot sooner than he did, but that expectation was unfair on a player so young.
This year has been his breakout year. He has gone from bench player to starting second-rower and is running at defenders like a man possessed. Whether he’s working the ball forward from inside his own half or running at the defence on its own line, he only knows one speed – flat out.
If the Cowboys go deep into the finals series, he will have an enormous amount to do with that.
Matt Moylan (Panthers)
When I watched Moylan in his debut season, last year, I didn’t think he could go nearly as far in 12 months as he has. He had good things going for him, but his lack of strength in defence at fullback was obvious and when opposition teams began to target that it appeared to damage his confidence.
But Moylan clearly worked hard in the off-season under the direction of the club and added muscle in all the right places. He’s much harder to beat now, and much more confident as a result. In attack, he’s got all the skills, enough for him to join in on the playmaking at times.
Tohu Harris (Storm)
If you’re able to run a bloke like this off the bench, it’s a luxury. That’s how the Storm use him. Back-row is one of their strengths, with Ryan Hoffman, Kevin Proctor and Ryan Hinchcliffe all playing there, so they can afford to hold Harris back to make an impact, which he invariably does. But he’s so big and strong that he’s just as effective at prop.
It must be a real pain for opposition forwards to see Harris run on when they’ve been slogging away for 20 or 30 minutes. He runs so hard that it’s only natural he breaks tackles. Harris threatens to be a real game-breaker in the finals series.
Tom Groggin
Roar Rookie
KB has had a few too many KBs.
paul
Guest
Kb give yrself a dozen . Im an easts supporter but where talking up and comers . Ill throw kane evans in if robbo picks him. Big strong and no fear could be chooks x factor
Footyfan
Guest
I'd put Timmy Lafai in the mix as well, has really come into his own.
The Barry
Guest
He starts on the wing but plays fullback for most of the game.
KB
Guest
It's interesting that you call yourself Boring..appropriate though.
Matthew Edwards
Roar Pro
he has definitely not played most of the year at fullback.
Boring
Guest
Yes SBW did very well last year, hence the title of this article, The five non-superstars I want to see come finals time, has nothing to do with him. It's really not a difficult concept to grasp is it?
Albo
Guest
Moylan has the best hands in the game and reads the game very well. He has great attacking flair and is playing more as a five eight in attack for Penrith lately. But he still has a way to go to lift his defensive skills. Still allowing too many soft tries for fullback being compared to great fullbacks like Inglis, Haynes, Slater, Minichello & Stewart.
KB
Guest
SBW did more than enough for Easts in one year. An extra year is our bonus from the only genuine Superstar in the NRL.
Albo
Guest
Spot on The Barry ! I shed a tear when Penrith let Gavin Cooper go back to the Cowboys ! Smart forwards are a rare commodity in our game ! His left side combination with JT is the Cowboys chief attacking weapon.
Aaron
Guest
Hear Hear Squid. Moylan and Segeyaro break the mould of modern day footy players, and it's refreshing to watch.
Boring
Guest
Ah the point. Your point? About SBW being a superstar that Souths will meet in Round 26? Or the point of the article which was about 5 players Mr Prichard (yes check that spelling) is looking forward to seeing in the finals (which I believe will happen after your aforementioned Roosters/Souths clash in round 26)? All other comments up until you posted yours were related to the topic of the article, yours introduced a new irrelevant theme, I believe you may have missed the point. Does that make you big slow and st?pid? I doubt it, perhaps your eyes had just misted over at the thought of SBW leaving your club.
KB
Guest
Yes..the point.
Boring
Guest
Thanks KB, nice to see your level of intelligence impels you to resort to name calling straight off the bat. No, not a Bulldogs fan at all. If there was anything I referenced that was incorrect, and I don't believe there was, feel free to offer your rebuttal. The facts are: 1. SBW is leaving the Roosters to play in another code. 2. SBW did walk out on the Bulldogs like a petulant child 3. The author of this article clearly stated he wanted to talk about some fresh names Did I miss anything?
KB
Guest
You must be a Dogs supporter...big, slow and st?pid..
MAX
Guest
I am sure Clark lives in the real world and obviously has an eye for NRL talent. RTS has everything I would expect of specialty fullback and when he is able to play in that position you will see just how good he is, remembering that his efforts on the wing are also first class.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I tend to agree at the moment danwain. I can see RTS's potential but he needs to do a lot more. He's already played most of this season at fullback and hasn't set the world on fire. His best is very good but he's a long way behind most other No 1s in the comp.
Boring
Guest
And such a superstar that he is leaving the game. Again. Only this time he has let everyone know in advance, rather than scuttling out the back door with his dummy. Total team player, you have to love his commitment to club culture and the concept of mateship. The point of the article was the players outside the usual suspects, sorry SBW wasn't mentioned to appease your bromance with him, however he was, as is so often the case, irrelevant.
danwain
Guest
Well that's just a ridiculous comment. All a player needs us finishing ability and a step to not being overrated, if that is your only criteria to not being overrated you live in a strange world.
Clark
Guest
A guy who has a great finishing ability and the best step in the game is definitely not overrated. Moving to fullback will only elevate RTS's status as a player.