It’s the final part of our series on who’s got a serious spotlight shining on them ahead of the 2018 NRL season.
» Check out Part 1 of this series
» Go on, have a look at Part 2 while you’re at it
Sharks
A couple of seasons ago, Matt Moylan was the incumbent NSW fullback, part of the Australian squad, and freshly signed to a big deal by the Panthers. He was also made the Penrith captain and played in a victorious Blues side at five-eighth.
It seemed Penrith were building their future around him, and you would have got any old odds that he’d leave the foot of the mountains to start again in the Shire.
Moylan will likely start at 6 for the Sharks and there are many yet to be convinced of his credentials in that position. He’s a very good ball-playing fullback, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a front-line role.
He’s well suited to five-eighth and could help the Sharks bounce back from a season where they promised a lot but rarely got out of second gear. Their roster needed a freshen up, and that’s what they’ve got with Josh Dugan and Moylan coming in.
Bit of pressure on Valentine Holmes to make a fist of the fullback role too, just quietly.
Matt Moylan (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Storm
With Cooper Cronk off to the Roosters, the man with a point to prove at the Storm will be the player who replaces him – Brodie Croft.
While there’s a ton of expectation replacing Cronk, there could be no safer place to make your mark in rugby league than playing outside Cameron Smith and inside Billy Slater and Cameron Munster, with your contribution planned by Craig Bellamy.
It will be interesting to see if Croft is turned into a Cronk clone or if the coach taps into Croft’s strengths. From the few games I’ve seen, he seems to have a better running game than Cronk, so the youngster may be given a bit more licence to run than having to organise.
Tigers
Tui Lolohea is one of the most naturally gifted young footballers I’ve seen and was criminally misused by various coaches at the Warriors, with his versatility counting against him. He rarely got two weeks in a row in the same position, continually being shuffled between five-eighth, fullback, centre, wing and off the bench.
It looks like Lolohea will be given the fullback jersey at Concord fulltime and the ball is in his court to turn promise into performance.
Titans
The head coach role at the Titans would have to be one of the toughest assignments in footy – let alone for a rookie such as Garth Brennan. The perennial basket cases of the NRL would love a period of stability and success. From centre of excellence disaster, financial bailouts, cocaine scandals, Jarryd Hayne’s signing and ablutions on police cars, the Gold Coast are never far from headlines for the wrong reasons.
But they have a lot of talent and if they can keep their best 17 on the park, they will give a lot of teams a run.
Their depth in the middle third looks a bit skinny but with attacking players like Ash Taylor, Kane Elgey, Konrad Hurrell, Brenko Lee, Michael Gordon, Anthony Don, Bryce Cartwright and Kevin Proctor, Brennan must come up with a gameplan that plays to these strengths.
In interviews, Brennan talks sense and football types say nothing but good things about him for what he’s achieved at lower levels. But gee, he has his work cut out for him here.
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Warriors
Speaking of perennial basket cases…
A lot of fans are picking the Warriors as wooden spooners, but I don’t see it based on the squad they have. Then again, if the Warriors performed on the field as well as they present on paper, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
They should have done a hell of a lot better than 14th, 11th, ninth, 13th, 10th and 13th since their last grand final appearance in 2011.
So Stephen Kearney is up against it to get this side performing to their potential consistently, which is a big ask for a coach with a 26 per cent win rate at NRL level. But he has a World Cup to his name. Go figure.
A spine of Issac Luke, Shaun Johnson, Blake Green and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck should be as good as any in the competition, while forwards including Simon Mannering, Tohu Harris, Adam Blair, James Gavet, Leivaha Pulu, Agnatius Paasi, Albert Vete, Sam Lisone and Bunty Afoa should go toe-to-toe with most packs.
Their three-quarter line is not as strong, but with players like Peta Hiku, Gerard Beale, David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo, Solomone Kata, Ata Hingano and Blake Ayshford, they can put a decent back line on the field.
It’s probably not in the Warriors’ best interests to be chopping and changing coaches, but what will they do if there’s another poor start to the season?
Renegade
Roar Guru
Enjoyed the articles TB, good stuff ?
Renegade
Roar Guru
Flanagan hasn’t missed a finals series as coach since 2011... certainly not going to compare him to Bennett or Bellamy but his one of the best from the rest.
Rob
Guest
I really hope the Knights have a good year. There fans deserve a bit of success and Mitchell Pierce and James Graham are quality players with the leadership knowledge that has been missing.
Rob
Guest
Flanagan shouldn't be coaching. It's a poor reflection on the game letting questionable drug cheats continue in a coaching role. His disrespectful rant after losing the semi final last year speaks volumes about his character.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sorry mate, when you turn 30 you’re over 30. You’re not still in your 20s until you turn 31.
Peter Phelps
Guest
Oh and how many Minor Prems or Coach of the Year awards has Flanagan won ? Its not that I am anti Flanagan its just that he has to earn his stripes first otherwise its apples and oranges.
Peter Phelps
Guest
Bellamy has had his team have finished consistently in the finals ever since he took over. His team have played in more Grand Finals than Flanagan's team has ever played in or is ever likely to play in. Bellamy's team has won more Grand Finals in the last 20 years than any other team in the comp. They have won more Dally Ms and Clive Churchill medals than Flanagans team despite having been in the comp a fraction of the time. Bellamy has one of the highest winning percentages of any coach in the last 50 years. Now 1 premiership from one GF appearance and 2 finals appearances don't really match do they ? Do you want me to start on Bennett ?
souvalis
Guest
Sorry ‘17 not ‘16 for Gals stats.
Lewl
Guest
There was a doco on that RLWC win that aired in NZ before the last one. It very much came across as Kearney being the coach in name only.
souvalis
Guest
Re Gal...don’t know..but his most significant stats of ‘16 are famously equal to Taumalolo ‘s...judge him on performance not on what he should be doing at that age...you’d think similar vintage shoulder reconstructed Churchill winner Slater and Dally M winner Cameron S.would be candidates for regression,too,then I suppose..were talking freaks who have the non aging capacities of naked mole rats.. Re:Flannos son...simple answer..come the middle/back end of the season sure...think the club can do better than ‘solid’ Townsend..Hokko has more nouse and organizational skills with high statistical goalkicking rate..whilst teaching the youngster a lot about game management..if his knee goes..it goes..
The Barry
Roar Guru
Bellamy only has two premierships and he's been coaching a lot longer than Flanagan... :-)
Dutski
Roar Guru
I second the idea of The Barry crossing columns. Thumbs up.
Peter Phelps
Guest
Woa there, Flanagan has a very long way to go yet before you can start putting him in the Bennett/Belamy camp. One GF win and a top 8 place hardly compare to what those two have achieved.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I agree about the Bennett asterisk matt...but Kearney was still the coach. He's worked under Bennett and Bellamy and you assume learned some things along the way. Most people that know him speak highly of him and he's been able to convince two clubs of his head coach credentials, albeit at Parra and the Warriors. If he gets the flick here, it may be to never get a chance again. Do they need a local? Their two grand final appearances have come under Anderson and Cleary. The Henry idea is a good one...
matth
Guest
" a coach with a 26 per cent win rate at NRL level. But he has a World Cup to his name.". That World Cup should have a great big "Bennett" asterisk against it. Kearney must be getting close to some sort of record for the most NRL coaching games with a win record below 30 percent. I think the problem is, there are few NZ coaches with NRL experience outside the Warriors, even as assistants. So if they want a local where do they look? Their best bet would be to get someone like Henry (ex-GC) in as an assistant coach, or even director of football, to provide Kearney back up and even take over in the background if need be.
Greg
Guest
30 is 30, 31 is over 30.....if someone asked you how old you are do you say :"I'm 30 and 259 days"?.....and regardless, that is the age when props are in their prime, so once again the Sharks hardly have an ageing forward pack
BA Sports
Guest
Seems you miss read again - Matt Prior also over 30 - 30 years, 258 days. That is 258 days over 30..
BA Sports
Guest
Souvalis - you sound like a Sharks fan; I am not a Gallen hater, I have plenty of respect for him; He will be 37 years old by about rd 22 this year. He has played 304 NRL games and close to 60 representative games - pretty much all of those up the middle of the park. So serious question; When do you think he will start to show regression? Another question; Why would you want Hodkinson when you have Flanagan junior who kicked 139 conversions last year? Hodkinson is a minimal upgrade as a player and no better a goal kicker, and yo have the chance to blood a potential future star of your club?
Greg
Guest
So in other words, only Galen and Lewis are 'Over 30'...... Flanno Jnr might get a a game or two this year but he isn't ready for consistent first grade yet. That's why they've signed Hodgkinson, to cover injuries to Moylan and Townsend and to mentor Flanno Jnr in reserve grade Holmes is 22 and only had one year at fullback. Most good fullbacks in the comp started off on the wing, he is going to get a lot better and while he didn't have the same impact as Barba he actually had a pretty good season last year which is why he was picked for QLD and Australia.
Nat
Roar Guru
Another good one TB. I think Moylan should shine at 6 with the Sharks simply because he knows that's his role and he has the coaches full confidence. IMO, the Sharks got the better deal with the Maloney swap, both short and long term. The Titans will be interesting and you're right about Brennan being the man - can he bring a reasonably talented squad together. They have shown before they can be a champion team without a champion player. Who knows with the Warriors. On paper, NZ team so should top 8 at a minimum. A Hard-A coach alienates the Bro's and a Bro coach adds to the lacklustre culture. How is there such a gulf between the AB's and these guys? Croft, yep, half a dozen games to find his feet, simple role with support inside and out. The Storm won't miss too much of a beat. Thank you to Roar editors for publishing this today. The current Experts have little on what The Barry offers daily. The Barry for Expert, who else agrees?