Promising Young Players

[Señor]

Interested in who people view as the most exciting young players in Super League. Obviously most of them aren't a chance for the 2013 World Cup (except for Theo Fages) but there are plenty who should be forming the foundation of squads in 2018.

1. Greg Eden (Hull KR, 22 years old, 36 FG games)
2. Tom Makinson (St Helens RLFC, 21 years old, 51 FG games)
3. Joshua Jones (St Helens RLFC, 19 years old, 28 FG games)
4. Jack Hughes (Wigan Warriors, 21 years old, 32 FG games)
5. Kieran Dixon (London Broncos, 20 years old, 35 FG games)
6. Danny Addy (Bradford Bulls, 22 years old, 49 FG games)
7. Gareth O’Brien (Warrington Wolves, 21 years old, 24 FG games)
8. Dominic Crosby (Wigan Warriors, 22 years old, 13 FG games)
9. Daryl Clark (Castleford Tigers, 20 years old, 44 FG games)
10. Alex Walmsley (St Helens RLFC, 22 years old, 6 FG games)
11. Stevie Ward (Leeds Rhinos, 19 years old, 25 FG games)
12. Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves, 19 years old, 11 FG games)
13. John Bateman (Bradford Bulls, 19 years old, 23 FG games)

 

[Harrigan]

Kallum Watkins? 22 years old? 78 FG games, 41 tries? The most naturally gifted centre I have seen in this country and a player every opposition seems to fear?

 

[Harrigan]

Also, Addy is a 13, Ward is a 6 or 13. Ill try my own a little later and see what I come up with. There's some decent lads coming through.

 

[Evil Homer]

I always think it's pointless trying to name teams, since you just end up selecting a bunch of average players who happen to be youngish. I mean Zak Hardaker is younger than both Eden and Makinson, Charnley is only a couple of months older than Makinson, guys like Jonny Lomax and Richie Myler are the same age as Addy etc.

A lot of the players you've named are unlikely to be anything more than reasonable SL players at best.

 

[Señor]

Kallum Watkins? 22 years old? 78 FG games, 41 tries? The most naturally gifted centre I have seen in this country and a player every opposition seems to fear?

Yeah obviously. I was trying to get a thread geared towards up-and-coming players who aren't established stars. Watkins, Hardaker, Charnley, Myler etc are all as young as many of these players but I didn't see the need to name them since anybody with two eyes could see that they are guns

Also, Addy is a 13, Ward is a 6 or 13. Ill try my own a little later and see what I come up with. There's some decent lads coming through.

It isn't meant to be a great team, just a list to start discussion. I'm interested in Addy though. I only listed him because I literally couldn't think of another promising half other than O'Brien; however, I was under the impression that he had been playing in the halves recently.

Is that just a temporary thing or do you just think his long-term future lies in the forward pack?

 

[Señor]

I always think it's pointless trying to name teams, since you just end up selecting a bunch of average players who happen to be youngish. I mean Zak Hardaker is younger than both Eden and Makinson, Charnley is only a couple of months older than Makinson, guys like Jonny Lomax and Richie Myler are the same age as Addy etc.

A lot of the players you've named are unlikely to be anything more than reasonable SL players at best.

Very true, as I said to Harrigan though, I was trying to avoid young players who are already clearly entrenched in SL. I have no problem discussing guys like Myler and Watkins but I'm a lot more interested in the next group of young players who might break out. Hardaker, Myler, Watkins and Charnley are young players but they're already the stars of SL so I didn't see the need to pump their tires any more :lol:

I was also bringing up a lot of players that most people will not have seen as much of. I've seen a tonne of Lomax but barely any of O'Brien or Currie and it would be good to hear some people's thoughts on them.

 

[Evil Homer]

Very true, as I said to Harrigan though, I was trying to avoid young players who are already clearly entrenched in SL. I have no problem discussing guys like Myler and Watkins but I'm a lot more interested in the next group of young players who might break out. Hardaker, Myler, Watkins and Charnley are young players but they're already the stars of SL so I didn't see the need to pump their tires any more :lol:

I was also bringing up a lot of players that most people will not have seen as much of. I've seen a tonne of Lomax but barely any of O'Brien or Currie and it would be good to hear some people's thoughts on them.

Fair enough. Of the players you've listed, Currie and Bateman are guns, they have been among the best forwards in their team since their debuts and have scary potential. Walmsley and Crosby too have looked really strong, although they are both 22 and in their rookie year so it's difficult to make a judgment on them just yet.

Outside of the players you've listed, the most impressive rookies I've seen this year have been Mark Percival, Tom Lineham and Morgan Escare (I'm talking legit rookies rather than young players that have been around for a while).

 

[Señor]

Fair enough. Of the players you've listed, Currie and Bateman are guns, they have been among the best forwards in their team since their debuts and have scary potential. Walmsley and Crosby too have looked really strong, although they are both 22 and in their rookie year so it's difficult to make a judgment on them just yet.

Props always take a lot longer to develop but I definitely like the look of Walmsley and Crosby. I think both Walmsley and Crosby are going to develop well at Wigan and St Helens where they aren't going to be rushed and can start a lot of games off the bench and limit their minutes. They are really raw but impressive physically.

Outside of the players you've listed, the most impressive rookies I've seen this year have been Mark Percival, Tom Lineham and Morgan Escare (I'm talking legit rookies rather than young players that have been around for a while).

:lol: I was considering putting Mark Percival in there but I've legitimately only seen him play one game so I thought that would be an extremely biased thing to do.

 

[Señor]

Fair enough. Of the players you've listed, Currie and Bateman are guns, they have been among the best forwards in their team since their debuts and have scary potential.

I find that quite interesting. I expected Bateman to get a big run with Bradford but I didn't think that Currie would be getting much time with the Wire. I'll have to pay extra attention the next time I watch Warringont. Both those players really excite me tbh.

 

[deluded pom?]

Look out for winger Tom Lineham at Hull. 21 and just broken into the first team. According to Wiki, 1.9m tall and weighs 105kg. Ironically, a Leeds lad.

 

[JasonE]

Iain Thornley has been impressive in the last few weeks, he is still only 21 but has a bit of size about him. His development should be closely watched.

 

[roughyedspud]

nathan mason got offered the chance to go to australia last week but it kinda fell through..looks like he's gonna get shipped out to a championship club instead...

 

[JasonE]

nathan mason got offered the chance to go to australia last week but it kinda fell through..looks like he's gonna get shipped out to a championship club instead...

What level was he offered at Spud, Holden Cup ?

I could get him a start in the Country RL level if he is interested in the future.

 

[roughyedspud]

well i was talking to his mum,who i work with, last sunday and i got the impression from her that nathan was abit worried about going all that way on his own and i think thats why it fell through...plus his girlfriend,who i also work with,was'nt to pleased that he'd be gone for 6months ....

i spoke to nathan yesterday on facebook and told him to get his arse out there and not to be worried cos i've loads of mates in sydney who'll help and look after him lol..

not sure what level he would have been playing? he's still only 17 so he could play SG ball?....his mum said huddersfield had sorted it all out..with a club,somewhere to stay & a part time job for 6month...another huddersfield lad as already been sent out to australia...i'll find out who it is..

 

[JasonE]

Perry Whiteley ?
I spoke to him on twitter last week, he is playing for my mate's team and i'm going down to watch when his team plays Shaun Ainscough's team.

 

[roughyedspud]

yeah i think thats him.

 

[WireMan]

Very true, as I said to Harrigan though, I was trying to avoid young players who are already clearly entrenched in SL. I have no problem discussing guys like Myler and Watkins but I'm a lot more interested in the next group of young players who might break out. Hardaker, Myler, Watkins and Charnley are young players but they're already the stars of SL so I didn't see the need to pump their tires any more :lol:

I was also bringing up a lot of players that most people will not have seen as much of. I've seen a tonne of Lomax but barely any of O'Brien or Currie and it would be good to hear some people's thoughts on them.

Hardaker, Myler, Watkins and Charnley are not first choice for England yet, are all young and still have a bit of developing to do. They all have parts of there games that need work on.

O'Brien is pencilled in to replace Briers at Warrington and obviously lacks the experience but with Myler also developing his organisational game he should go alright (hopefully).

Currie is behind Waterhouse for left second row and would normally be to young to get the games, but he is to darn good to leave out.

The other good youngster at Warrington is Rhys Evans. He is going to be a superstar.

 

[Harrigan]

Watkins is pretty much a cert after last year and the way he has started this season. Hardaker probably wont get a shot unless Tomkins moves to the halves or out of RL. Myler has impressed me this year and I can see him having the spot by the end of the year if he carries on. Charnley and Briscoe are a toss up for the right wing spot but IMO I would prefer Charnley if im being honest.

 

[WireMan]

Watkins is pretty much a cert after last year and the way he has started this season. Hardaker probably wont get a shot unless Tomkins moves to the halves or out of RL. Myler has impressed me this year and I can see him having the spot by the end of the year if he carries on. Charnley and Briscoe are a toss up for the right wing spot but IMO I would prefer Charnley if im being honest.

Watkins cannot defend for toffee.
Myler still has to nail on the ability to control a game from the halves.
Hardaker is a long way from Tomkins and needs to develop his full back game to get close.
Hall and Briscoe are the first choice wingers.

They are all still young and learning. In a few seasons they may be dominant in there positions. I don't think you can move them from the Promising young players list just yet.

Of the four, Charnley and Myler are the closest to doing this IMO.

 

[Harrigan]

Watkins cannot defend for toffee.
Myler still has to nail on the ability to control a game from the halves.
Hardaker is a long way from Tomkins and needs to develop his full back game to get close.
Hall and Briscoe are the first choice wingers.

They are all still young and learning. In a few seasons they may be dominant in there positions. I don't think you can move them from the Promising young players list just yet.

Of the four, Charnley and Myler are the closest to doing this IMO.

Im fed up of having to explain this. Watkins can defend and is a good defender at centre. He's missed 7 tackles all season, unfortunately, 3 have been on sky and thats what people remember. They forget the times where he makes try saving tackles though. He, along with Tomkins, are the 2 most exciting players in the country and need to be in the England team. Watkins defence is just as good as Cudjoe's anyway.

2 years ago, Watkins couldnt read an attack play, but last year he got up to speed and made 95% of his tackles too. This year, playing out of position, he has missed a couple but has made some very good ones too. Anyone who thinks he cant defend cleary only pays attention to what people say on message boards when they see him miss one.

He has the ability to make any defender in the world look silly and when he's in a flat defensive line, wont get caught out too often.