Five rookies to watch at every NRL club
No Cookies
www.dailytelegraph.com.au
Warriors
Taniela Otukolo: A 19-year-old hooker with three NRL games to date but has only just been upgraded to the top 30 squad. A real livewire with good skills and speed. Was a standout in SG Ball in 2020, scoring nine tries in six games, before the competition was cancelled.
Otukinekina and Valingi Kepu: We’ve seen the Burgess twins do it at Souths and the Saifitis at Newcastle. Now for the Warriors’ version. Twin brothers Otukinekina and Valingi both play in the middle and are on development contracts for next season but get upgraded into the top 30 in 2023. They’re extremely big boys from the south side of Auckland who have been pretty much playing alongside each other since Valingi made the switch from rugby in under 15s.
Jacob Laban: An athletic edge backrower regarded as one of the best teenagers coming through in New Zealand. Has just finished school and will join the top squad after Christmas.
Zyon Maiu’u: Another young backrower who has just finished school and is ready to join the NRL squad. Most Valuable Player in the NZRL under 20s competition last year. Skilful and tough.
Cowboys
Griffin Neame: A big, red-headed prop from New Zealand who played Junior Kiwis a couple of years back and looks mean as hell. Started 2021 playing for the Blackhawks but by the end of the season had clocked up three NRL games and they won’t be his last. Had a blinder on debut against the Tigers and just continues to impress with his work ethic and determination. If he doesn’t make the round one side he won’t be far away.
Riley Price: Son of former Queensland warhorse, Steve, the 20-year-old can play in the middle or on an edge, but has had some cruel luck in recent years through injury. He did his shoulder towards the end of 2019 and didn’t play a game the following season. Came back and broke his collarbone. But he is a promising talent who has shown enough to be locked in for two more years.
Jeremiah Nanai: An exceptional 18-year-old backrower who promises to be a standout for years to come. Came through in that Kirwan State High team that won the schoolboys competition and was only 16 at the time, then was only 17 when called up to train with the top squad last pre-season. While he wasn’t even on the development list in 2021, he ended up playing the final four NRL games and was outstanding.
Iosefo Masikau: A Fijian Rugby Sevens Olympic gold medallist, extremely athletic and fast. At 23, has had very limited rugby league experience. But if he adapts to the changes, could be a real excitement machine. Taniela Sadrugu is the other Fijian rugby product trying to make the switch at the Cowboys as a forward and is also impressing at pre-season training.
Jake Bourke: An Ignatius Park College product who is an organising-style half and plays with great maturity. Has been a gun coming through the grades and will do the pre-season with the top squad before going back to the young guns program. But one to keep an eye out for.
Eels
Sean Russell: Still only 19 with two NRL games in the bag. But Maika Sivo’s ACL injury (Sivo is expected to miss up to 15 rounds) has opened the door for Russell to get plenty more at the start of 2022. Keeps growing and that taste of top grade is said to have really stoked the fire in him.
Sam Loizou: Came through playing in the halves alongside Jake Arthur but will end up in the centres. Was fairly slight when he came into pre-season last year but is starting to get his body right. Has played one first grade game off the bench in that late season belting by Penrith when Brad Arthur rested a stack of players. But this 18-year-old is very athletic and has the skills to make a very good career when he gets a bit more experience.
David Hollis: A bit of an old-school prop from Wauchope on the mid-north coast who has done an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic but is now not far away from getting a shot in the engine room in NRL. Only 21 next year but they’ve had raps on Hollis at Parra for a while now, and all you continue to hear is good things.
Jock Brazel: A backrower from Moree who made the Australian Schoolboys and has been locked into a three-year deal. Given he’s only just turned 18 and the Eels have some strong competition in the back row, you’d expect he has some hard yards to do before he’s ready to challenge for an NRL spot. But club recruitment boss Ben Rogers says Brazel is a name Parra fans might want to keep a close eye on.
Solomone Naiduki: Powerful Fijian winger who the Eels have a high opinion of. At 21 has now moved into the top-30 squad and could get some early chances with Maika Sivo’s injury.
Panthers
Lindsay Smith: Former Australian Schoolboy from Westfields who plays in the middle and lives for his footy. At 20, made his NRL debut against the Tigers in round 13 and it won’t be his last.
Sunia Turuva: An outside back with obvious athleticism but also has real feel for the game. The type of fullback who is always ready to seize the moment. His popularity was highlighted this year when Ivan Cleary spoke so beautifully about what he means to the club after Sunia’s mother died suddenly. Played his junior footy for the Berala Bears and St Marys.
Thomas Jenkins: A 20-year-old who can play anywhere in the outside backs. Born and bred in Boorowa and played for the Young Cherrypickers. Went home during the Covid shutdown last year to play for his local first grade team but returned to play Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup in 2021, earning himself a new two-year contract extension.
Mavrik Geyer: Son of Mark who also plays in the backrow and is making his way with a minimum of fuss, but has been very impressive. Probably not as tall as his old man but quick on his feet and can lay on a try. Has really stood out in Jersey Flegg.
Niwhai Puru: A 19-year-old five-eighth who plays like he’s been cut from the same cloth as Jarome Luai. A local Windsor Wolves junior who looks really sharp and loves running the ball. Played Jersey Flegg in 2021 and has been called up to join the NRL squad for six weeks of pre-season.
Ok. Hes got gradually worse. Lol. I seriously doubt Ennis, Mary, Carr, Kids and Murfs have much say in The Eels recruitment plan but you never know. We live in hope Rammy.
