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As the 2014 NRL regular season draws to a close, I have decided to take a look at some of the bucketload of youngsters making a mark on their respective clubs and the competition.
Some players may already be considered superstars, some may be on their way to stardom. But 2014 has given us a glimpse into the future and the young blokes who will be the next Greg Inglis or Johnathan Thurston.
Brisbane Broncos – Ben Hunt (24 years old)
Hunt has had an absolutely outstanding season and if it weren’t for Jarryd Hayne, the Brisbane halfback would be well in the hunt for the Dally M medal. He leads the Broncos in try assists, linebreaks, tackle busts, linebreak assists and kick metres, as well as ranking second in tries scored and overall points scored.
Hunt has made himself an indispensable member of the Broncos team and his team’s fans will be hoping this form can be repeated year in, year out for the former Under-20 player of the year.
Canberra Raiders – Jack Wighton (21 years old)
This was a dead heat decision between Wighton and Jarrod Croker, and I nearly gave it to Croker after his outstanding season, but I think Wighton could be the real deal for the struggling Raiders. He was shifted all over the backline after starting the year in the centres, before finishing the year playing at fullback.
Throughout the entire year he showed his value for Canberra, combining an uncompromising defence with clever attack, and he was the Raiders’ best for the last few weeks of the season. I’ll eagerly be following his development, and he looks set to break into representative teams in the next few years.
Canterbury Bulldogs – Tim Lafai (23 years old)
Lafai is another player who’s had a breakout year for his team following a promising start to his first grade career. Despite the Bulldogs stumbling their way towards the finals, Lafai has kept a high standard of play throughout the entire season. He leads the Bulldogs in tries scored, try assists, linebreaks and tackle busts, as well as placing second in linebreak assists.
His season didn’t go unnoticed with Lafai being considered for the Blues’ vacant centre spot that Josh Dugan ended up filling. The big centre has a promising future ahead and the Bulldogs did well in securing his stay at Belmore until the end of 2017.
Cronulla Sharks – Valentine Holmes (19 years old)
This Holden Cup star has made a seamless transition to the NRL, scoring three tries in his first six games in first grade, having only turned 19 in July. An outside back, Holmes was eligible for both Australia and New Zealand before pledging his allegiance to Queensland and Australia.
He was picked in the Under-20 State of Origin team at fullback, causing star Anthony Milford to be shifted to the halves. Despite the Sharks’ miserable season, Cronulla fans have something to look forward to in the years to come, with Holmes signed on until the end of 2017.
Gold Coast Titans – James Roberts (21 years old)
Following a troubling start to his NRL career after several sackings for bad off-field behaviour, Roberts has found a fit at the Gold Coast. Widely considered as one of the fastest players in the competition and being touted as the next GI, Roberts has a huge future ahead of him.
He has scored 16 tries in just 28 games in first grade, including five from 12 games this year for the Titans. He is eligible for NSW selection and you can consider him a certainty for representative teams if he can keep his off-field life in check.
Manly Sea Eagles – Peta Hiku (21 years old)
Hiku made his debut for the Silvertails in 2013, sporadically playing in the first grade team in Brett Stewart’s numerous absences, and making a huge mark in the competition. He was man of the match in the Sea Eagles’ famous regular season clash against eventual premiers the Sydney Roosters where the Roosters won 4-0. Hiku ran for an outstanding 297 metres in that game, and then ran for 231 metres in his next match.
He failed to make the Sea Eagles grand final team, but has started every game this season for Manly on the wing, scoring 17 tries in the process. He also leads the Sea Eagles in runs and run metres, as well as second in linebreaks, and third in offloads and tackle busts. At only 21, Hiku is clearly an outstanding talent.
Melbourne Storm – Mahe Fonua (21 years old)
After becoming the first Victorian born and bred player to make his debut for the Melbourne Storm, Fonua has cemented his spot in Craig Bellamy’s team. He scored 10 tries this year in 21 games, and has shown he will be a vital part of the Storm’s plans in the future. He is in outstanding form coming into the finals and will be a player to watch in the post-season
Newcastle Knights – Sione Mata’utia (18 years old)
Master coach Wayne Bennett has labelled Mata’utia a future Knights captain and following an outstanding start to his NRL career, it is easy to see why. The former Australian Schoolboys captain has scored seven tries in his first seven games in first grade. He was named in the 2014 NYC team of the year and has a huge future ahead of him
North Queensland Cowboys – Michael Morgan (22 years old)
Another player who has had a breakout year, Morgan’s form for the Cowboys earned himself selection as 18th man for the Queensland Origin team. Despite not playing, he is certainly one to watch in the future.
Originally a half, Morgan has reinvented himself as a fullback following Lachlan Coote’s season-ending injury during the Auckland Nines. Scoring nine tries and recording an outstanding 20 try assists during the season, Coote will certainly find it hard to break back into the team following Morgan’s performances.
Parramatta Eels – Tepai Moeroa (18 years old)
In a side bustling with young talent, the former Newington College product has certainly earned his plaudits following an explosive start to his NRL career. The big second-rower has scored three tries in his first nine games and his bustling performances and shaggy hair has seen him draw comparisons to club legend Nathan Hindmarsh.
Earning selection in the 2014 NYC team of the year, Moeroa has signed on with the Eels until the end of 2017 and will certainly be a big part of their future
Penrith Panthers – Matt Moylan (23 years old)
Moylan has stamped his authority on the NRL this year, showing the rugby league world why he is considered to already be one of the best fullbacks in the game, in only his second year in first grade. He has shown he is a genuine match winner for the competition surprise packets, and is poised to re-sign with the club. He has scored eight tries and assisted 17, as well as assisting 18 linebreaks during the 2014 season.
South Sydney Rabbitohs – Alex Johnston (19 years old)
Replacing club legend Nathan Merritt should’ve been no easy task for this homegrown winger, but 17 tries in just 20 games of first grade has made sure Merritt has been languishing in NSW Cup for the majority of the year. Johnston has been compared to Israel Folau and Inglis and his outstanding strike rate should see him being highly sought after when he comes off contract next year.
St George Illawarra Dragons – Dylan Farrell (23 years old)
Farrell has been playing in first grade since 2010 but he still has plenty of room to grow at the Dragons. He missed the majority of the 2014 season due to injury but he has the ability to become a vital cog in a talented Dragons back line. He scored 31 tries at the Rabbitohs in just three years, and fans from Kogarah and Wollongong will certainly hope he can replicate this form for their club.
Sydney Roosters – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (21 years old)
This season has been a quiet year for Tuivasa-Sheck following his outstanding debut year where he was named as the Dally M and RLIF winger of the year for 2013. The Kiwi international has enormous potential and with club legend Anthony Minichiello retiring at the end of the year, Tuivasa-Sheck is expected to move permanently to fullback. Expect him to have an outstanding future in his preferred position.
New Zealand Warriors – Konrad Hurrell (23 years old)
Another young talent who has had a breakout season, scoring 12 tries and assisting eight in his 19 outings for the Warriors. Weighing in at 102 kilograms, Hurrell has explosive power and speed that can only be rivalled by his teammate and club legend Manu Vatuvei.
Despite having only represented Tonga at rep level so far, he has stated his intent in playing for the Kiwis and it is just a matter of time before he is selected for his adopted country of New Zealand.
Wests Tigers – Luke Brooks (19 years old)
This was a tough one considering the outstanding pool of talent at the Tigers’ disposal, but I simply couldn’t go past the impressive Brooks. In his first full season of first grade Brooks has shown composure beyond his age, justifying the enormous expectation on the young halfback.
Widely touted as the next Andrew Johns, Brooks has shown he is capable of leading the Tigers around the park, more than filling the void of Benji Marshall’s exit from the club. He leads the team in try assists and has an enormous future ahead of him.
What do you think Roarers? Any glaring omissions? Let me know what you think below.
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