The NRL’s last chance saloon: Part 2

This is the second instalment of the article where I consider the fate of the nearly 40 players who are not contracted beyond this year, and who will be 30 years of age or more by the time the 2022 season kicks off.

If you missed it, check out Part 1 now.

League is increasingly becoming a young man’s game and many of this older brigade may unfortunately not be offered a contract in the NRL beyond this year, while others may be looking at their last opportunity in the NRL.

Here’s my prediction of how things will pan out for these players. Player’s age at the beginning of the 2022 season is shown in brackets.

Canterbury

Will Hopoate (30)
Now in his 12th season and sixth with the Dogs, 2021 would appear to be his last season at Canterbury-Bankstown.

While he still has plenty of skill, his pace has faded in recent years and he doesn’t seem to fit with the Dogs’ youth recruitment plan. I expect he’ll turn up at another club next year, one that wants a reliable old head in the backline.

Ava Seumanufagai (30)
The big bopper was a depth signing for the Dogs this year, and while he hasn’t let the team down in his limited games this year, it’s hard to see him surviving the axe that will surely fall across the board as the club strives to get off the cellar floor.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see him lining up on the bench of another NRL club next year.

Newcastle

Following the retirement of Blake Green this week, Newcastle have no players off contract who are aged 30 years or more.

North Queensland

Jake Granville (33)
Granville is a club institution at the Cowboys and has been sparking their attack since they won their premiership in 2015. Now seen as a bench player after losing the No.9 jersey to Reece Robson, I expect Granville to hang up his boots this year.

Justin O’Neill (30)
Back in the day, O’Neill was a dangerous outside back with speed to burn, but those days appear long past now.

A combination of injuries and poor form have seen O’Neill struggle this year, and I expect him to join Jake Granville in retirement.

Ben Hampton (30)
Hampton is one of those players who suffers from his own versatility, having played every backline position, as well as hooker, in his nine-year career. He looks like a player who would benefit from a change of scenery, and will most likely appear in a different colour jersey in the NRL next year.

Sydney Roosters

Daniel Tupou (30)
The only player whose expression never changes, whether he just scored another sensational try or dropped the ball cold in front of his goal posts. Still one of the best in the game and will be on the Roosters left wing again next year.

Daniel Tupou. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

Isaac Liu (30)
Liu is heading towards 200 games with the club and I can’t remember him being dropped in recent years. A great middle forward who is still in top form, and look for him to be extended by Uncle Nick for a couple more years.

Josh Morris (35)
Morris joined the Roosters to finish his career with brother Brett, and also to hopefully finally win a premiership. Brett’s gone now, and the Roosters don’t look likely this year, so I expect Josh Morris to call an end to his magnificent career at the end of the season.

Canberra

Dunamis Lui (32)
Lui isn’t the worst front rower running around and has now made his way back into the Raiders’ top grade. Canberra could do a lot worse than give him one more year.

Jordan Rapana (32)
Rapana has had an injury-interrupted season but on his day is still one of the hardest players in the NRL to contain, and he knows how to score a try. Providing he stays injury-free, Rapana will be re-signed by the Raiders for next season.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Iosia Soliola (35)
Soliola has been out of favour for a large part of this season and it looks like father time is finally catching up with him. This will surely be his last season.

Manly

Jorge Taufua (30)
Taufua appears to have finally recovered from injury but now finds himself in a queue behind the ever-improving Ruben Garrick and Jason Saab, in the competition for a wing spot.

Taufua is better known for his defence than his ability to streak away for a try and I suspect that he won’t be at Brookvale next year. He may be of interest as a depth signing for another club.

Melbourne

Dale Finucane (30)
Current co-captain and in some pretty good form. I don’t expect the Storm will be letting Finucane go in a hurry. My tip is a two-year extension.

Cronulla

Will Chambers (33)
Chambers reappeared in the NRL following problems with his transfer to rugby and, unsurprisingly, he hasn’t set the world alight. 2021 will be Chambers’ last year in the NRL and perhaps he’ll give rugby another try.

Josh Dugan (32)
Unbelievably on $900,000, Dugan has been just a first grader since Santa Claus took him to Cronulla in 2018.

The Sharks will be taking every opportunity to clean up their salary cap this year and Dugan will be one of the casualties. I don’t see him getting another contract in the NRL, so he can retire and count his money.

Shaun Johnson (31)
The Sharks’ million dollar man won’t be offered another contract like the one he has now by any NRL club. On his day, he can do anything, but those days are now few and far between. My tip is that he’ll head to the Super League next year for a final payday.

Matt Moylan (30)
Amongst a host of disappointing players, Moylan hasn’t been the worst for the Sharks this year, but no way will he ever see the likes of a $900,000 salary again.

With the confirmed departure of Chad Townsend, and probably also Shaun Johnson, Cronulla will re-sign Moylan for next year on a much reduced contract.

Aiden Tolman (33)
Tolman has been hitting the ball up and making the hard tackles since 2008, he never lets the team down, and is a role model for the rest of the team. I expect the Sharks will re-sign him for the 2022 season, during which he should pass the 300-game mark.

Aaron Woods (31)
Woods has been one of the better performing Sharks forwards this year and, if anything, the new rules seem to suit his style of play.

He’s odds on to go around with the Sharks again next year and, if not the Sharks, maybe he’ll return to the Tigers to finish his career.