Players to watch in the NRC

The nine National Rugby Championship teams started naming their 2015 squads this week, and so I’ve done another quick ring around to get the good oil on some players – both Super Rugby-contracted and guys we’ve not necessarily heard of – to watch this season.

North Harbour Rays: provisional squad named July 25
The Rays are still on the hunt for a marquee tighthead prop, and indeed, they note “Three props still to be named” from that provisional squad they named late last month. Head coach Geoff Townsend had no hesitation in nominating two Rays to keep an eye on, though.

“The contracted player would be [Gordon flanker] Jack Dempsey. He’s outstanding – I think he’s the third-leading try-scorer in Shute Shield and he’s only played 11 games [this season], so that gives you a bit of an idea of the talent he has. He’s a good footballer, he’s exciting, and he had three games off for the Waratahs the bench and I’m sure he’ll work his way into their rotation next year. He’s an important player for the future.

“Reece Hodge would be very close to being contracted, and he’s a guy who has played a few different positions at Manly this year. Predominantly at 15, but he’s played at 10 at times, and his versatility would appeal to anyone,” Townsend said proudly. And with good reason; the Melbourne Rebels announced they’d signed Hodge for two years on Tuesday, but he still counts as uncontracted for this exercise.

Melbourne Rising: squad named Monday
Melbourne kicked off the squad announcements this week, with 13 Rebels-contracted players named, three marquee Wallabies in Luke Jones, Tom English and Sean McMahon, and players from all nine Dewar Shield clubs in Melbourne. Head coach Zane Hilton named names for me.

“Ben Meehan, our little halfback is definitely our contracted player to watch. He’s been gagging to play and has been in behind Nic Stirzaker for a little while now, and Luke Burgess, too. With Nic out at the moment [Stirzaker had shoulder surgery last month], I think Ben is really excited to play, and he’s just a livewire.

“An uncontracted player to watch would be Leo Taliu, a centre from Harlequins down here. He’s a really solid player, good catch-and-pass ability, good ability to beat a defender, and from our perspective, really someone we look forward to playing well.”

Greater Sydney Rams: squad named Tuesday
The Rams named a 28-man squad this week, and are busily finalising the remaining five spots currently. Rams’ forwards coach Neil Tunnah picked out these couple of players.

“Of the Super Rugby guys, I think Benn Robinson will come back into the squad with a point to prove, given where he sits in the Wallabies standings at the moment. He’ll have the bit between his teeth, and I’d expect him to be a standout, to be honest. Siliva Siliva and Hugh Roach at hooker will be another couple of guys looking to prove points, too,” Tunnah told me.

“From club land, I’d probably look at props again. We’ve got [loosehead] Cameron Orr from the Aussie Under 20s, and he’s a young guy with bags and bags of potential. He’s playing out at West Harbour and he’s got a fantastic attitude. He just wants to put the head down and learn and kick on, and I’m really looking forward to working with him. Young Sam Needs from Eastwood is another one, and though he’s predominantly a loosehead, we potentially see him as being able to cover both sides of the scrum.”

Perth Spirit: squad named Tuesday
Perth also named their 33-man squad on Tuesday, complete with the full quota of Force-contracted players and two cleverly selected marquees in Kyle Godwin and Tetera Faulkner. I spoke with Head Coach Tai McIsaac yesterday.

“Kyle Godwin, who probably didn’t have his best year in Super Rugby, is going to get more experience playing week in, week out, and that will be really good for him and his progress. We’ve got the likes of Ross Haylett-Petty too, who was in the Australian Under 20s last year, and we’ll be looking to move him to lock because of his height [197cm], but he’s got a strong season of rugby and of S&C training behind him, too.

“We’ve got a really good halfback from Nedlands in Michael Ruru. He did get some game time last year [with the Spirit], and he’s really been playing well this year [in Premier Grade]. He’ll put some good pressure on Ian Prior and Ryan Louwrens. And we’ve got a hooker from the same club, Anaru Rangi, and he’s an absolute beast; he’s been carrying well and bashing blokes in defence.”

University of Canberra Vikings: squad named Wednesday
The Vikings named another Super Rugby player-laden squad yesterday, including discarded Wallabies prop Ben Alexander, new recruits Albert Anae and Aiden Toua, and the return from France of former Brumbies flyer, Frankie Fainifo. Director of Rugby, Dan McKellar, mentioned these names at the announcement.

“Joe Powell is certainly someone to watch. He’s a natural footballer; he’s tough, he’s uncompromising, and he’s got really good game awareness. He knows when to run, he knows when to pass. There’s certainly polish needed – he’d got to improve his passing and kicking game, but he’ll get the chance to work on those,” McKellar said. And the scoop here is that Powell will get the chance because Michael Dowsett will play for NSW Country in the NRC this season, in a real win-win for the Brumbies.

“[Flanker] Rowan Perry is probably the uncontracted player, and he’s certainly someone we’re keeping an eye on from a Brumbies point of view. He got an opportunity through injuries to play in the NRC last year, and he’s just coming back from a shoulder reconstruction. He’s getting his confidence back for Tuggeranong and he’s only 21; he played Australian Under 20s only last year.”

NSW Country Eagles: squad to be named today
Like all of the NSW-based sides, the Eagles are just waiting on the outcome of the Shute Shield finals in Sydney to wrap up their last few spots, but will commence training with as many players as possible next week. Head coach Darren Coleman thought these couple of names were worth mentioning.

“Ned Hanigan would certainly be one; he’s a real class act that’s for sure. I think he was MVP for Australian Under 20s [at the recent World Rugby Under 20s Championships in Italy], and he’ll be a class addition at lock or at six,” Coleman said. I think anyone that watched him in Randwick’s losing effort last weekend against Manly would agree; Hanigan looks to possess a good workrate, and is a quality lineout option.

“[League convert and lock] Sam Lousi is probably the contracted player to watch; I think we’ll see the best of him. He’ll hopefully be able to string some big minutes back-to-back, and settle into the sport, because although he showed plenty of promise in his snippets for the ‘Tahs, he didn’t get a lot of consistent game time. All the reports suggest the upside to him is quite steep.”

Queensland: Brisbane City and Queensland Country squads to be named Friday
With the Queensland Rugby Union set to name both their NRC squads tomorrow, they preferred to keep things under wraps until their big announcement. And that’s fine, it’s entirely their prerogative – and it’s not as if we’ll have to wait another week or anything.

That all said, my Ballymore scouts have been taking a few sneaky peaks at the initial City and Country training sessions this week. They tell me that City centre Samu Kerevi is itching to crack on again in 2015, after being one of the finds of last year’s NRC, and earning Queensland Reds and Wallabies Training squad selection this year.

Souths winger Mika Tela, fresh from starring in the Premier Grade grand final on Sunday was another impressing.

For Country, they told me it was hard to miss Taniela Tupou ripping in, and for him the NRC would represent the next big step in a career so far played out on YouTube. Chris Feauai-Sautia was brilliant for Souths in the GF, and is looking to carry that on in the NRC, while ex-Brumbies and ex-Sunshine Coast outside back Stephan van der Walt will be another one to keep an eye on.

Sydney Stars: squad to be named next week
With both Sydney Uni and Balmain still going in the respective competitions, the Stars have all but finalised their squad ahead of next week’s announcement. I’m told there will be a genuine schoolboy prodigy included, as well as more Balmain players across the NRC and wider training squads than in 2014. Coach Peter Playford mentioned these two players.

“He’s looking for a new contract at the moment, but Tommy Kingston is definitely one to watch. He’s the ultimate professional; he just wants to get better. He went searching for more game time with the Rebels, and had a few injuries. I think he’s a long-term Super Rugby player, and I know a few sides are looking at him, but this NRC for him will be about playing consistent footy. He’ll be a great signing for us, and we’ll roll him out from fullback, which is where we [Sydney Uni] got the best out of him a few years ago.

“David Hickey is just one of the hardest-working guys, and every time you give him something he learns it and gets better. He’s been the Sydney Uni captain most of the year, and that’s included guys like Tom Carter and Dave Dennis, and he just learns more and more every week. Some people can’t captain and play, but David is just everything you want. He rips in at training; he helps the young kids [Hickey’s only 24 himself]. In terms of Super Rugby squad depth, if he’s not knocking on the door as a no.7, then there must be talent around.”