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Opinion
I recently posted an article about the NRL’s Golden Oldies and, in doing my research, was surprised to find that there are currently around 50 players aged 30 or more running around in the NRL in 2023. These guys are the survivors.
I was equally surprised to discover there are about twice that number of players currently aged 21 or under who’ll be turning out this season, and that most already have had a taste of first grade.
Interestingly, the majority of these young guns play in the backs, and I guess to make it as a forward at that age requires a considerable amount of physical development and maturity just to survive. Perhaps the backs have it a little easier.
Here’s my team of the best young guns who’ll be playing in the NRL this year, selected using the following criteria:
• 21 years or younger when the comp kicks off on March 2; and
• Has either played at least one NRL game in the position in which they’ve been selected, or come off the bench to play in that position.
The player’s age by the time the competition kicks off, together with the number of first grade games they’ve played, are in brackets.
1. Joseph Suaali’i (19, 24 games) – 2023 could be a really big year for this youngster who already has 6 games for Samoa under his belt. Will we see him in NSW and Australian colours this year?
2. Selwyn Cobbo (20, 25 games) – One of the best ball runners to come along in a decade with speed to burn. He’s played three games for QLD already and looks to be a star of the future.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
3. Izack Tago (20, 32 games) – Has already won a premiership and played in the World Cup in his brief career and it wouldn’t surprise to see him shift to the second row in the near future, and take his game to another new level.
4. Will Penisini (20, 33 games) – Played nearly every game for the Eels last year and 4 games for Tonga, and has established himself as one of the best centres in the game.
5. Dominic Young (21, 28 games) – Young really announced himself at the RLWC, crossing for 9 tries in 5 appearances for England. Newcastle need to get the ball to him at every opportunity in 2023.
6. Tom Dearden (21, 57 games) – About to enter his fifth season in the NRL and was a real surprise packet for both the Cowboys and QLD last year.
7. Sam Walker (20, 47 games) – Walker has developed rapidly and is now one of the best young halfbacks in the business. It won’t be too long before the QLD selectors come calling.
8. Chris Patolo (21, 21 games) – Patolo is a young giant who looks to benefit from the increase in quality in the Bulldogs’ squad this year.
9. Jake Simpkin (21, 19 games) – Simpkin ended 2022 as Wests Tigers’ first-choice hooker and will no doubt develop further under the guidance of club captain Apisai Koroisau.
10. Davvy Moale (19, 14 games) – Already tipping the scales at a reported 112kg, Moale will be a huge unit by the time he stops growing. Souths look to have a good one here.
Jeremiah Nanai scores. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
11. Jeremiah Nanai (20, 27 games) – Few players have experienced a more meteoric rise than this freakish forward who has already played 3 games for QLD and 2 for Australia, winning both campaigns in 2022.
12. Josh Schuster (21, 35 games) – There’s no doubt that Schuster is a special talent but he’ll need to maintain his fitness if he wants to fulfill his potential. He looks like an ideal candidate for lock forward to me.
13. Simi Sasagi (21, 16 games) – Sasagi was one of the few bright spots for Newcastle last hear and has the versatility and skill to make his mark this year.
That’s a pretty handy team, and just look at the players who qualified but weren’t selected – Xavier Savage, Tesi Niu, Reece Walsh, Talutou Koula, Xavier Coates, Bradman Best, Hamiso Tabui-Fidow, Jojo Fifita, Taylan May, Jacob Kiraz, Jayden Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan, Ezra Mam and Heilum Luki.
These young guns have all the size, skill and pace required for long and successful NRL careers, and it will be exciting to watch their future development.
No doubt there will be another batch to take their place next year, and the future of the NRL looks assured as long as this production line continues.
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