My series continues with four more young guns to watch in the NRL this season.
South Sydney Rabbitohs – Keaon Koloamatangi
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have a vacant position in the left back row heading in 2021. There are a number of candidates who could fill the position including Jed Cartwright, Hame Sele and recruit Jacob Host. While it remains to be seen who super coach Wayne Bennett will opt for to fill this void, no other option poses the attacking threat of Keaon Koloamatangi.
Koloamatangi debuted in 2020, playing 14 games off the bench exclusively as a middle forward. He may yet resume this role in 2021 where he uses his size and footwork at the line to great effect. However he is wasted in the middle. The extra space on an edge would allow him to better use his footwork, and his size and speed would make him a nightmare for opposition halves.
Souths’ left side is already one of the most potent attacking edges in the NRL with the dual threats of the superb passing and running games of five-eighth Cody Walker and fullback Latrell Mitchell to add to the speed of 2020 leading try scorer Alex Johnston.
The big body of Koloamatangi will only create additional space for these attacking aces as he provides a threat defences cannot ignore. We saw how dangerous Viliame Kikau was for Penrith both with the ball and when being used as a decoy and this should provide the blue print on how to best use Koloamatangi.
St George Illawarra Dragons – Jackson Ford
Jackson Ford has always been the standout back-rower coming through the Dragons’ system, typified by a swag of player of the year awards. In 2017 Ford was the Dragons’ under-20s player of the year and in 2019 he was their Canterbury Cup player of the year. He also made his NRL debut in 2019 as a development player. He continued his Canterbury Cup form in the top grade.
Awarded a top 30 contract for the 2020 season I had high hopes that Ford would start on an edge for the Dragons. It wasn’t to be, however he did firmly establish himself in the top 17, primarily coming off the bench in the middle, as well as starting a few games at lock.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
With Tyson Frizell leaving there is an opportunity for Ford to secure an edge role for the Dragons in 2021. Ford will bring an outstanding attacking game to the role, highlighted with some top shelf line running.
In his stellar 2019 reserve grade season he recorded 13 tries, 12 line breaks and 82 tackle breaks. He hasn’t yet had the opportunity to showcase this ability while playing in the middle in first grade but watch for him to excel on an edge for the Dragons this season.
Sydney Roosters – Egan Butcher
With the retirements of Sonny Bil Williams and Mitch Aubusson, the departure of Poasa Faamausili and no forward recruitments, the Roosters will need to look within for forward depth in 2021. Egan Butcher, younger brother of Roosters first grader Nat, will be one young player looking to step up.
Going through his third pre-season with the Roosters, Butcher is yet to debut however he made the 21-man team several times last season. A natural footballer who is deceptively strong, Butcher has made a name for himself in the lower grades as a back-rower but will likely be used in the middle as he becomes accustomed to first grade.
With Boyd Cordner reportedly set to miss the start of the season, Butcher will be under consideration from Round 1. However having only six senior games to his name, all from 2019, the Roosters may want him to spend some time in reserve grade this season before being handed his debut.
Wests Tigers – Stefano Utoikamanu
Stefano Utoikamanu was a targeted signing by the Wests Tigers prior to the 2020 season. The then-19-year-old was yet to debut but had come through the Parramatta system with massive raps, having represented Australian Schoolboys and NSW under-20s. So highly was the young front-rower thought of, NSW coach Brad Fittler identified him as a possible Origin bolter prior to the start of the season.
Drawing comparisons to Payne Haas, Utoikamanu reportedly has a huge motor to go with his six-foot-three and 115-kilo frame. With the Tigers’ forwards struggling to make metres in 2020, he looks to have the skills to fill a much needed void in the Tigers’ game.
Having played just the 24 minutes across three games of first grade he is yet to show what he can do in the top grade, but he looks to likely make the 17 from Round 1 and should flourish under the guidance of experienced recruit James Tamou.
Boingo
Guest
Jai Arrow is a better player than Crichton. He'd beat Angus to a starting spot.
steveng
Roar Rookie
“Go You Bunnies” looking good for 2021! This is our year! We will give them Storm’s a shellacking on the 11 March 1st game of 2021. :stoked: :happy:
Rellum
Roar Guru
Reece Walsh and Sam Walker are the two youngsters I am hoping to see break through this year. Walsh is probably a year or two away but Walker should hopefully play first grade.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Koloamatangi was a stand-out revelation in 2020, he averaged 108 run metres and 17 tackles per game, which saw him clinch the Rabbitohs’ Rookie of the year award. The other Rabbitohs’ forward to put on your radar is Patrick Mago, who unfortunately was injured most of the season, he is a powerhouse, he and Keaon are young, strong, talented and have a good attitude. Bright futures ahead.
Big Daddy
Guest
If we go Freddie's word Suali is the breakout star. Despite not having played a first grade game Freddie has included him in emerging Blues squad and tells us he has learnt his lesson from last year's loss. How strange.
William W
Roar Rookie
Keaon Koloamatangi has been training at Left-Centre this pre-season.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yep. I reckon he'll retire this year.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
He will be sorely missed by everybody.
Tony
Roar Guru
No Cordner?
Greg
Roar Pro
That's the order I have also. Egan next in line for a lighter mobile forward, Fifita next in line if they need to replace a bigger body. But I've no doubt he gets more than a few games this year.
Greg
Roar Pro
This is my worry also. He has played a lot more middle than edge even in lower grades but has always looked extremely dangerous in the stints he has had on an edge. He did however spend more time on an edge in trials last year than in the middle and I thought that looked to be the plan for him. Don't know why it never eventuated except that Souths would've been a little short on quality middles without him. Am hoping the Arrow signing, and Siro and Johns leaving, sees him move out wider.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
I'm thinking the Roosters go with 11 Sitili 12 Angus 13 Victor 14 Verrils 15 Collins 16 Nat B 17 Liu 18 utility back Bit of a queue there in front of the young Butcher, but sure, 1 or 2 go down he gets the call. Merely a personal opinion but Nat B comes across as similar in stature, motor, game and ability to Jai Arrow. If Jai was a Rooster he'd be on the bench, and if Nat was a Qlder he'd be a Maroon..
Nat
Roar Guru
Saints have a few good young props in Kerr, Lawie, Blacker and Ford. I reckon Kerr should make a good account of himself this year.
Nat
Roar Guru
Nat and Lui are middles and Boyd might miss a fair chunk of this season. I've never heard of the kid so wouldn't know if he's good enough but there's an opportunity there. In fact there's only Egan and Baker named as backrowers in their 30 (behind Angus/Boyd). You think Butcher walks into many other run on squads?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Angus, Boyd, Lui, Sitili T., Nat B. top the queue for backrow spots at the Roosters means young Egan won’t get near the side unless there’s a barrel full of injuries. His brothers a wonderful player who’s been treading water there for 3 years..mottai nai..
Joe
Roar Rookie
I thought Keaon was awesome in the middle for the bunnies. Seeing as he was kept from the edge by players like Jack Johns I wonder whether Bennett just sees him as a middle forward. If he can be anyyhing close to Kikau he should definitely play edge.