The new year is upon us and teams are only a few days away from resuming training for the 2022 season.
While our leading teams have been a little quiet on the recruitment front, some teams outside the top eight have a number of big new signings.
Whether that’s enough to rocket them up the table, only time will tell. For now though, I take a look at the top four teams as far as recruitment is concerned in 2022.
4. St George Illawarra Dragons
Gains
Jaydn Su’A (Rabbitohs), Francis Molo (Cowboys), George Burgess (Wigan), Moses Mbye (Wests Tigers), Moses Suli (Sea Eagles), Aaron Woods (Sharks), Jack Gosiewski (Sea Eagles), Tautau Moga (Rabbitohs)
After a season derailed by BBQ-gate, Anthony Griffin has made plenty of changes, mainly to a forward pack that underperformed in 2021.
Jaydn Su’A, Francis Molo, George Burgess, Aaron Woods and Jack Gosiewski will all be seeking a spot in the Dragons 2022 middle.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Moses Mbye, Moses Suli and Tautau Moga can provide some spark to St George Illawarra’s back line, with Mbye certainly in contention for the vacant fullback spot.
With Adam Clune and Corey Norman leaving the club, the Dragons’ young halves, led by Jayden Sullivan, have a big job on their hands in 2022.
3. Cronulla Sharks
Gains
Cameron McInnes (Dragons), Nicho Hynes (Storm), Dale Finucane (Storm), Matt Ikuvalu (Roosters), Lachlan Miller (rugby sevens), Jayden Berrell (Wynnum Manly)
Where Griffin has gone for quantity, incoming Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon will be more than happy with his recruitment quality.
Cam McInnes and Dale Finucane will provide some starch to a young Cronulla pack that have showed plenty of promise but leaked too many points in 2021.
For Cronulla to challenge for a top-eight spot, defence needs to be the focus and Fitzgibbon will be well aware of this.
Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
Despite this, Sharks fans will be most excited by the arrival of Nicho Hynes, who will partner Braydon Trindall or Matt Moylan in the halves.
The back-line depth will be boosted by the signings of Matt Ikuvalu and Lachie Miller.
2. Brisbane Broncos
Gains
Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs), Kurt Capewell (Panthers), Brenko Lee (Storm), Corey Jensen (Cowboys), Logan Bayliss (Souths Logan), Jordan Pereira (Dragons), Ryan James (Raiders), Billy Walters (Wests Tigers)
After a couple of years spent battling it out with the Bulldogs for the wooden spoon, Kevin Walters is looking to turn around the Broncos with some high-profile signings.
Adam Reynolds is the big one. His quality kicking game is exactly what Brisbane have been missing.
He should be able to generate plenty of repeat sets, and the Broncos do have the attacking fire power to take advantage.
(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Kurt Capewell is another key signing, adding more Origin experience to the Broncos’ line-up.
I would also expect Brenko Lee, Corey Jensen, Jordan Pereira and Ryan James to get plenty of game time in 2022.
1. Canterbury Bulldogs
Gains
Matt Burton (Panthers), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Brent Naden (Panthers), Matt Dufty (Dragons), Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Tevita Pangai Junior (Broncos/Panthers), Josh Cook (Rabbitohs), Max King (Storm), Braidon Burns (Rabbitohs)
The only way is up for the Bulldogs and Trent Barrett will be confident his new recruits will get Canterbury moving in that direction.
I would expect Matt Burton to play in the six jersey and that solves one half of the Bulldogs’ halves puzzle.
Josh Addo-Carr, Brent Naden, Matt Dufty and Braidon Burns all possess some real pace that Bulldogs back lines have gone without in recent years.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Paul Vaughan and Tevita Pangai Junior will improve the Bulldogs’ pack.
Having said all that, Canterbury’s spine remains a work in progress and is likely where the Bulldogs require further strength this season.
So, there it is, the top four.
Will all of these teams play finals footy? Unfortunately, for long suffering fans, the answer is no.
Probably one, possibly two but there are unlikely to be any more.
However, if improvement is higher on the agenda, then all these clubs should have a better year ahead.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Ordinary spine? Tyrell Sloane blitzed it last year and we have Sullivan or Amone to partner Hunt with McCullough solid at hooker. It's a long way from ordinary
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's another aspect of next season which will prove to be very interesting. A rudderless team gets a rudder is how it's meant to play out of course.
Briss
Roar Rookie
You reckon the Broncos are going to be the biggest improvers. For me Reynolds needs a creative 5/8 outside him. And Capewell he is a gun no doubt but 2 players are going to lift a side who have occupied the cellar for a while now. I Think kevie has got his work cut out for him. Especially if the group keep getting covid
Briss
Roar Rookie
Iam not completely sold on Reynolds as yet,,sure he can carry a game plan and kick like he owns the football but creative half Iam not convinced. Time will tell. I've been wrong before
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think he’s on a train and trial contract at the moment…
mach4
Roar Rookie
Have the Dogs signed Isaac Lumelume ?
Larry1950
Guest
The Nico Haynes recruitment decision by Cronulla with the intent to play him as their 5/8 is interesting, from my observations when the Storm moved him up into the backline after Papynhauzen came back his formed dropped & his lack of creativity & vision away from fullback had a negative impact on their attack. He’s a good player but mainly we’ve only seen that from fullback, yet to see him set the world on fire when up in the line. Hughes, Munster, Grant & Smith all made him look good & the jury is out on whether Trindall, Moylan & McInnes with have the same effect. I like the bronco recruitment & think they might get decent impact from Billy Walters as the bench utility. Hopefully dad doesn’t hold him back. Don’t know what went on with Brenton Lee at the Storm in 2021, seemed to just fall through the cracks after premiership & origin success the year before. Now if only uncle Wayne could take Corey Oates off our hands we can field a winger with pace who can catch a high ball.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm saying the Reynolds signing may well reap some short-term rewards but I'm not so sure it's a great move long-term. We'll have to wait and see. If Sam Walker becomes the next gun QLD half and the Broncos are back on struggle street in the halves again when Reynolds retires or becomes ineffective, then history won't care much if Reynolds drags the team into the 8 or higher but can't land a title. The focus will be on another lost spine player who could have turned the club around. Pearce has helped drag the Knights up the ladder but that must have come at the cost of missing out on some young talent in the halves which could have been a better long-term strategy. I'm not pretending to have the answers but signing very good players to drag a team up the ladder, who are a bit long in the tooth, can have a downside, particularly if they are pricey.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
"The club runs the risk of building up to a tilt for the crown and then Reynolds retires". Reynolds is 31 and the Broncos have finished last and second last over the past 2 seasons, so I think it would be fair to say if they have "a tilt for the crown" during his time there he's more than (way more than) done his job. That said, I think he's a great pick up for them, but I don't think they'd be expecting him to be holding the trophey.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I was probably a bit harsh with my assessment of the Dragons likely spine , KenW. The potential is there if it can be developed. Hunt is still their key man, with some young talent like Sloan, Sullivan & Amone to hopefully develop into NRL quality spine players. Time will tell.
Malo
Guest
Yeah only the Doggies will fly into the 8
Dave
Guest
You’re assuming that all teams have progressed from 2021 to 2022 at the same rate as 2021. The dragons are at best marginally better than 2021, although I’d argue they are worse. Their “improvement” counts for nothing if all the teams above them gain parity on last year and all the teams that were below them improve substantially, which is a distinct possibility
Bulldog joe
Guest
Bulldogs will finish 16th again The attack will similar to last year struggling to score 12 points per game , defence will be horrid conceding 34 points per game
andrew
Roar Rookie
I hope Woods doesn’t do his party trick Tony, you know when he runs backwards into the line.
Nat
Roar Guru
You won Jenny. You're candle gets no brighter by dumping on others.
Nat
Roar Guru
If Suli played his best each week he'd be the buy of the season.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I wonder when the Broncos won't be a ''young'' team anymore? I could be wrong but I seem to recall the previous Broncos generation being described as ''young'' for ages and then the next minute they were over the hill!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
N.M, All good points you make and if the club has the right player coming thru, in the halves, it could be perfect. In theory, someone is wrong it seems. The Bunnies for letting such an influential player go or the Broncos for signing someone who isn't up to another 3 years in the NRL. Maybe the different circumstances at both clubs could mean they are both on the money.
JennyfromPenny
Guest
Biggest question to answer in 2022 is whether Reynolds misses his first Suncorp conversion kick from the left hand touchline, showing us the GF miss was no fluke, or nailing it, making the GF miss the choke of the year.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If that's how it pans out, Jimmy, it's been a long time coming.