There has been a flurry of new recruits switching NRL teams in the off-season but who will be the pick of the bunch in 2022?
Some high-profile players have joined new teams like Broncos duo Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell, Bulldogs signings Josh Addo-Carr, Tevita Pangai jnr and Matt Burton, and veteran Kiwi international Shaun Johnson heading back to the Warriors.
And there has also been a range of under-the-radar moves which could make a massive difference as the season goes on.
Each week, The Roar will put a burning issue to our experts to get their opinions on the main topics for the Greatest Game of All.
And you can also have your say on who will be the best recruit of 2022 in the comments section below.
Last week we asked the readers to rank each team’s finals chances out of 10 and after thousands of votes, there was plenty of support for the Roosters to challenge Penrith and Melbourne for the title while the Rabbitohs were tipped to slide after making last year’s grand final. The Bulldogs were likely to get the wooden spoon again with voters on average rating their finals chances a lowly 2.3 out of 10.
Kurt Capewell: He’s an experienced player who brings toughness to the Broncos pack as an edge back-rower. Capewell has shown his class at Origin level and in helping Penrith win the competition last year. His leadership will be crucial for Brisbane this season.
Adam Reynolds: Whoever at Souths mismanaged their salary cap to the extent that they could only offer Reynolds a one-year deal should be sitting in the corner with a dunce’s hat on. Smart clubs do long-term planning to ensure chief playmakers who kick goals at historic levels that are also your captain with 200-plus games at their junior club are retained. He’s just what Brisbane needed and his recruitment will accelerate their rise from the cellar.
Dane Gagai : Everyone has been talking about how much Adam Reynolds will be missed at the Bunnies – Souths not having Gagai is just as detrimental. His leadership, experience and guidance of the younger players around him was a huge factor in the Knights victory over the Roosters on Saturday. It’s wonderful to have him back in the red and blue, and he will prove to be one of the most valuable buys of the season.
Nick Meaney: He had a quiet start to the year playing at five-eighth for the Storm but the fact he was given the task of filling Cam Munster’s boots is significant in itself, showing the faith his new club already has in him. Meaney came into first grade at Newcastle behind Kalyn Ponga and then moved for better opportunities at a Bulldogs side that has struggled.
But the 24-year-old showed enough during these first 65 games that Craig Bellamy came calling, looking for someone to replace Nicho Hynes, and in the right system Meaney will flourish.
Matt Burton: Not only is he extremely talented but he is the sort of player that the Bulldogs can build their roster around for the next decade. He has new opportunity at the Bulldogs and I expect him to make a big impact this year.
Nicho Hynes: Last Friday evening Hynes weaved his magic against the Raiders and he nearly got them home. Not only did he guide the Sharks around the field extremely well, he was a constant danger running with ball in hand and his goal-kicking is an added bonus. In the second half the Raiders were lifting and had the Sharks pinned down their own end. Hynes kicked them out of trouble and it almost won the game. If there is a better purchase they’d want to be very good.
Nick Meaney: Melbourne have made an art form of taking guys that nobody else wanted and making them into superstars, which is exactly what they’re going to do with Meaney. What the Storm lost in Nicho Hynes was a guy they could play off the bench and cover a lot of positions, as well as kicking goals: in Meaney, they get a fullback, half, wing and centre that will likely feature in every game this year – probably split four ways into different roles in the team. He’s not on much money but Craig Bellamy will work wonders with him.
Josh Addo-Carr: When the Foxx left the Storm I thought he’d be living a lonely life out of the wing at Canterbury, but he brings so much more than speed and tries. Anyone who saw how he reacted on the weekend when he caught his teammates dawdling around at a restart understands he has brought a winner’s mentality with him and that’s just what the Dogs needed. He won’t necessarily be responsible for Canterbury performing miracles, but he’s definitely a shot in the arm for their club culture.
Moses Suli: Now at his third NRL club, Suli will be one of the most influential Dragons in 2022 and potentially the best recruit of the season. His powerhouse running was on clear display in Round 1 and after a patchy time at the Sea Eagles where he managed 64 games, but suffered with injury and poor discipline, the 23-year-old will be looking to grab this new opportunity with both hands. There is nothing subtle about the way he plays and should Anthony Griffin unlock the keys to channelling his talent into more polished and refined performances, Suli could well become one of the most dominant centres in the game.
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The Barry
Roar Guru
Grow up… it’s just a saying you two bit lightweight tr.oll Must have been yet another long, slow, boring week of everyone ignoring your dmb sht so you come back to me for some human contact It’s sad that you only have two choices… being ignored or being despised…
Rob
Guest
You’ve signed a star in Burton TB. He certainly has something special from what I saw in Townsville.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
FOX will be a dud buy. Elite fullback money to stand on the wing and wave to the crowd. Dogs are just a stop off on his end game at Souths. Doubt he will play origin this year. stats are way behind Tupou and To'o. It was only Olam's service that gave him so many highlights last year
mach4
Roar Rookie
The Fox is looking more like a fullback in waiting, midfield runs and organising the troops, cant be long before Dufty at wing and the Fox in the 1.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
It's not my blood pressure I am messing around with, Phil. :silly: Shhhh. Be vewy, vewy quwiet. I'm hunting
RabbitBulldog! :laughing:Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Needs some tackling and defensive positioning lessons
Phil
Roar Rookie
Settle down GB. Remember your blood pressure.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
1. Dale Finnucane 2. Nick Cotric 3. Connor Watson
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
All the more reason to pick DCE. Keep picking him for the next 10 years. And Capewell at centre. Jake is fine. He can just focus on his knights and winning the first of his 7 Novocastrian premierships. He doesn't need the bother of playing in a losing origin series. Now let's not speak of it again.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Looking at their track record of creating superstars I think the smart money would be on the Storm and Xavier Coates whose immense athletic talent was stifled and squandered at the Broncos. I expect the Broncos to have a similar influence on old mate Adam Reynolds unfortunately.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"Matt Burton is the right answer" The grand poobah has spoken! So let it be written, so let it be done. Everyone who has a contrary opinion well, you just heard it, you are wrong. To quote Admiral Kirsten Clancy (Star Trek: Picard); "The sheer fxxxing hubris” of such a statement.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Very close to my list, Hynes at 2.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Good call, he was impressive
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
He is the number 1 buy of the Season hands down. All upside. Renno close second.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Cameron McInnes
no one in particular
Roar Guru
yeh, people have this idea that Bellamy can turn average players into champions, like Jack Cogger into Brad Fittler
Rob
Guest
Clifford’s my tip for a Origin debut this year. DCE is done and Walker needs a season or 2 more. Clifford is physically equipped for the physicality of Origin ( ask Victor) good defensive and big kick. Ponga and him will build their combination linking with Gagai.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Great call on Vette-Welsh. Was sorry to see her leave the Roosters (again) but with Corban Baxter in the 1 I guess we are still pretty good at the chooks. Will be a good match Eels vs Roosters this weekend.
Redcap
Roar Guru
All reasonable choices. It could also be somebody who comes out of nowhere, Isaiah Papali'i style. Ash Taylor, sans his weighty contract, gets a start this weekend. He's always had the ability to be a top half. Ethan Bullemoor could do a Papali'i if he gets plenty of game time on the edge. I caught a bit of NRLW on Sunday and Botille Vette-Welsh could be the best signing across both comps.
AJ Mithen
Expert
Was on my radar Telboy