How to build a premiership-winning NRL list

Evolve (say uh’volv). Verb. Develop gradually.

With the salary cap playing prefect, the 30 players covering the 17 positions are usually selected as a result of the rest and recuperation arm of the football department in liaison with the coach in determining the need to fill a vacancy at any of the positions for whatever reason.

That is an emerging science, perfecting the statistical gauntlet and the accompanying psychometric mental and physical tests for NASA or SAS candidates.

The quest for talent identification is relentless. Countless hours of video are reviewed from around the world in both rugby codes covering all grades and ages. Then there’s the subsequent tracking of progress of a prospective recruit before final assessment and contract negotiation. In addition, club talent spotters attend umpteen games in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Sometimes there is an element of luck. Billy Slater may well have been a Bronco but for John Ribot noticing Wayne Bennett’s acute interest in the then 16-year-old at a trial game. John won the day and signed him swiftly. Could you imagine the Storm without Billy?

With premierships being the mark of success, I have selected three premiership clubs from the past ten years to analyse (in part) how the teams evolved. Two maidens and one back to back: the Cowboys of 2015 (17-16), the Sharks of 2016 (14-12) and the Roosters of 2019 (14-8).

(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The chronological assembly of an NRL team list may also serve as a way to tabulate club lore as well as the basis for analysis. I noted there was no particular order of how each position was filled, no team being on the same cycle.

The North Queensland Cowboys took 20 years for their first premiership, the winning team assembled over 12 years, 2004-15. The final 17 had played 2074 NRL games prior to grand final day. Only three players rated eight or over.

The Sharks took 50 years to win their maiden premiership, the winning team being assembled over 16 years, 2001-16. The final 17 had played a significant 2859 NRL games prior to grand final day. Seven players rated eight or over.

The Roosters took four years to win their first premiership in 1911. The club has one treble (1911-13) and three back to backs on the board, 2018-19 being the latest. The final 17 had played 2610 NRL games prior to grand final day. Seven players rated eight or over.

Much emphasis is placed on the spine, and I present a time frame collation extended to five positions.

It should be noted how quickly the Roosters spine was assembled and the success it created in both premiership years.

The 2015 grand final was as dramatic as a Cecil B DeMille biblical classic.

Matt Scott (2004) Johnathan Thurston (2005) Gavin Cooper (2006) James Tamou (2009) Jason Taumalolo and Michael Morgan (2010) Kyle Feldt and Jake Granville (2013) headed the list of what had developed into one of the most entertaining outfits since Canterbury held sway.

I have fond memories of my favourite winger, Kyle Feldt, scoring that try to the chagrin of Darius Boyd. He then followed with a special spiralling kick to Ben Hunt, his dropping of which put him on the path to becoming a multimillionaire at the Dragons. Kyle will make a great agent.

DeMille left a quote which is most appropriate for the Cowboys and Johnathan Thurston: “The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication.”

The 2016 grand final is my favourite. Fifty years in the making. Paul Gallen started his march in 2001 when not required at Parramatta, followed by Wade Graham from Penrith in 2011. ‘Shire Horse’ Andrew Fifita was a heaven-sent gift from Balmain in 2012. The great Luke Lewis joined from Penrith in 2013, 200 years after Blaxland Lawson and Wentworth crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813. He was to play a significant role in the Sharks climbing their mountain.

The ever-courageous Matt Prior and champion flanker to be Valentine Holmes signed in 2014. In 2015 gaining Canterbury ‘discards’ Ennis and Barba was a fortuitous happenchance which was to pay off big time, as was the arrival of a condor named Jack Bird to stiffen the centre. Next year it was a case of leaving the best to last when Jimmy Maloney knocked on the door. Like Dwight Eisenhower, Shane Flanagan was ready for D-day.

Canberra gave them a reality check in the semi-final. Matt Prior saved the day and the season. The lesser lights, the other seven members of the squad, were tough and seasoned journeymen who did their job well. I always had a soft spot for old Umina boy Chris Heighington.

Cameron Smith’s speech at the closing ceremony made me proud to be an Aussie and a rugby league tragic to boot.

The 2019 grand final may have had its controversies, but it proved a memorable decider. The Roosters had developed excellence to the ethereal to be appreciated and enjoyed. It would be an insult to label any of them as lesser lights. The first on the list, Mitchell Aubusson (2007), embodies the spirit of the club and the last name thereon, Sam Verrills (2019), its future.

In between those we witnessed the shrewdest acquisition of talent this century. Fearless Jak Friend (2007), enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (2008), courageous Boyd Cordner (2011), tall timber Daniel Tupou (2012), tough as teak Sio Siua Taukeiaho (2015), the magic of Latrell Mitchell and his mate Joseph Manu (2016) and the silky trio of the incomparable James Tedesco, Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk in 2018, not forgetting Angus Crichton and Brett Morris (2019). Any of the top 17 would be welcome at a rival club.

Clubs able to provide third-party agreements hold a big advantage in quality team assembly provided they are used properly. The great Johnathan Thurston warned, “There are only a couple of players out there who are worth $1 million a season”.

Many clubs have talent identification and development programmes in place, particularly the Broncos and the Storm. Roy Masters of the Sydney Morning Herald advised that it is about to get more sophisticated and clubs will need to appoint a director of data insights and decision technology.

A day with Paul Bunn and team is my idea of paradise. Those engaged in the rest and recuperation divisions of NRL clubs have the most demanding and rewarding of occupations: profiling, pricing, player and prospects. The very heart of rugby league.

Broncos, Souths, Storm, Eels and others will attempt to dethrone the Roosters but may have to wait another season and then have to contend with the up and coming Bulldogs, a club developing gradually.