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http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/th...pressure-in-2016/story-fndv2us0-1227578743156
The nine NRL players under the most pressure in 2016
October 22, 20153:09pm
PRESSURE is a part of top line sport and what separates the best from the rest is the ability to execute under that pressure.
The true greats, the ones who live forever, they thrive under pressure that makes most sportspeople wilt.
Pressure can come from a big contract, a mistake in the past or a recent player transfer and weve named the nine NRL players who will be facing the most pressure in 2016.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Nobody can dispute Tuivasa-Shecks ability or pedigree. Some of the things he did in 2015 didnt seem believable even as they were happening with his speed, footwork and tackle breaking ability making him a natural choice for Dally M fullback of the year.
However, his move to the Warriors is fraught with complications and potential pitfalls. How will he adapt to playing outside the Roosters ultra professional and ultra disciplined setup? Can he combine well with Shaun Johnson, given theyre rather similar in style and skill set?
Talent usually wins out and every red-blooded football fan should be hoping the Tuivasa-Sheck-Johnson-Luke combination clicks instantly, but given how much the Warriors have put up to bring him home the stakes are exponentially high.
Aidan Sezer
The Raiders have very quietly put together a really nice squad for 2016, but whether they can improve on this years 10th placed finish comes down to Sezer. Canberras troubles with winning close matches were well documented this season and the kicking game, composure and organisational skills of Sezer should go a long way to arresting those troubles. While Sam Williams did some good things in his return to the national capital, Sezer is a class above and is the biggest free agent the Raiders have secured in some time. With Ricky Stuart coming off contract at seasons end, hes bet the farm on Sezer.
James Maloney
The Roosters main attacking weapon since 2013 has been James Maloney and hes been one of the best halves in the NRL for some time. He provides elite level playmaking and can consistently create points, which makes him a perfect pick up for the Sharks. Cronulla nearly made the top four in 2015 with the halves combination of Jeff Robson, who is solid enough but rarely inspires, and Jack Bird, who is better suited to the centres. With Maloney pulling the strings behind their excellent forward pack and with Valentine Holmes slotting in at fullback, a maiden premiership must be the goal for the men from the Shire.
How will James Maloney adapt at the Sharks in 2016?Source:News Corp Australia
Kieran Foran
Parramatta have had several busts in the recruiting department over the past decade, but theyve never had a transfer quite like Foran. The Eels have bet every cent they have that Foran and Beau Scott are the men to turn them around one can presume theyve used the money they were saving in case Jarryd Hayne dropped out of the NFL and given the disastrous end to the Chris Sandow era and their six-year playoff drought fans are hungry for hope. The tough and gritty Foran contract saga played out in a far more low key manner than Daly Cherry-Evans, but theres every bit as much pressure on him in 2016.
Trent Hodkinson
In one of those strange scenarios that can only be thrown up by rugby league, the incumbent New South Wales Origin halfback, who was a year removed from a series win and a grand final appearance, was allowed to leave his club. Hodkinson was passed over for Moses Mbye at Canterbury and joins a Knights team fresh off a wooden spoon. What makes the move so risky, for both sides, is that Hodkinson rarely produced consistent football in his time with the Dogs. He had streaks here and there, but six years into his first grade career hes never really hit the heights one would expect from a halfback with his resume. With the Knights in desperate need of a little inspiration and creativity, Hodkinson must find some manner of consistency.
Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmoughs decline from bruising Origin forward in 2014 to big money bust in 2015 needed to be seen to be believed. The veteran didnt just have a bad year in his first season in blue and gold, he was a downright liability. He crabbed across field throwing suicidal passes, he struggled with injuries all season that robbed him of much of his power and his decline was endemic of the malaise that engulfed the Eels throughout the tumultuous season. However, with a proper off-season (undoubtedly his first for many years) Watmough just might be able to squeeze out a few of the games that made him such a coveted signing. Given his pay packet, the Eels are sure hoping so.
Anthony Watmough had a rough first season with the Eels.Source:News Corp Australia
Mitchell Pearce
James Maloney and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck were the two most damaging attacking players in the Roosters squad last season by any measurement you want to bring to the table. Rarely does a team lose one star, let alone two, and given the uncertainty over who will play fullback for the Chooks and the inexperience of the impressive Jackson Hastings, there is more pressure on Mitchell Pearce than ever before at club level. Pearces best seasons have come when he was partnering Todd Carney and Maloney in the halves when hes been forced to be the main playmaker hes rarely starred. The capabilities of Pearce to dominate the attacking game will be the making of the Roosters in 2016.
Ben Hunt
Its a damn shame that all anybody will remember about Ben Hunt in 2015 was his infamous drop in the grand final, but thats the nature of the business. One of the best running halves in the competition, Hunt was one of the best in the competition all season and the scary part is that he can only get better as his combination with Darius Boyd and Anthony Milford continues to grow. However, can he recover psychologically from his grand final gaffe?
Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans makes more money than God and has a contract that runs until the Second Coming. As such, theres a huge amount of pressure on him to deliver the goods and be the player the Sea Eagles need him to be in 2016. With the departure of Kieran Foran and the tremendous amount of player turnover at the Sea Eagles over the last two seasons much of which was to accommodate Cherry-Evans Trent Barrett will be praying to every God there is that his star halfback has the goods.
Originally published as The nine players under the most pressure in 2016
The nine NRL players under the most pressure in 2016
October 22, 20153:09pm
PRESSURE is a part of top line sport and what separates the best from the rest is the ability to execute under that pressure.
The true greats, the ones who live forever, they thrive under pressure that makes most sportspeople wilt.
Pressure can come from a big contract, a mistake in the past or a recent player transfer and weve named the nine NRL players who will be facing the most pressure in 2016.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Nobody can dispute Tuivasa-Shecks ability or pedigree. Some of the things he did in 2015 didnt seem believable even as they were happening with his speed, footwork and tackle breaking ability making him a natural choice for Dally M fullback of the year.
However, his move to the Warriors is fraught with complications and potential pitfalls. How will he adapt to playing outside the Roosters ultra professional and ultra disciplined setup? Can he combine well with Shaun Johnson, given theyre rather similar in style and skill set?
Talent usually wins out and every red-blooded football fan should be hoping the Tuivasa-Sheck-Johnson-Luke combination clicks instantly, but given how much the Warriors have put up to bring him home the stakes are exponentially high.
Aidan Sezer
The Raiders have very quietly put together a really nice squad for 2016, but whether they can improve on this years 10th placed finish comes down to Sezer. Canberras troubles with winning close matches were well documented this season and the kicking game, composure and organisational skills of Sezer should go a long way to arresting those troubles. While Sam Williams did some good things in his return to the national capital, Sezer is a class above and is the biggest free agent the Raiders have secured in some time. With Ricky Stuart coming off contract at seasons end, hes bet the farm on Sezer.
James Maloney
The Roosters main attacking weapon since 2013 has been James Maloney and hes been one of the best halves in the NRL for some time. He provides elite level playmaking and can consistently create points, which makes him a perfect pick up for the Sharks. Cronulla nearly made the top four in 2015 with the halves combination of Jeff Robson, who is solid enough but rarely inspires, and Jack Bird, who is better suited to the centres. With Maloney pulling the strings behind their excellent forward pack and with Valentine Holmes slotting in at fullback, a maiden premiership must be the goal for the men from the Shire.
How will James Maloney adapt at the Sharks in 2016?Source:News Corp Australia
Kieran Foran
Parramatta have had several busts in the recruiting department over the past decade, but theyve never had a transfer quite like Foran. The Eels have bet every cent they have that Foran and Beau Scott are the men to turn them around one can presume theyve used the money they were saving in case Jarryd Hayne dropped out of the NFL and given the disastrous end to the Chris Sandow era and their six-year playoff drought fans are hungry for hope. The tough and gritty Foran contract saga played out in a far more low key manner than Daly Cherry-Evans, but theres every bit as much pressure on him in 2016.
Trent Hodkinson
In one of those strange scenarios that can only be thrown up by rugby league, the incumbent New South Wales Origin halfback, who was a year removed from a series win and a grand final appearance, was allowed to leave his club. Hodkinson was passed over for Moses Mbye at Canterbury and joins a Knights team fresh off a wooden spoon. What makes the move so risky, for both sides, is that Hodkinson rarely produced consistent football in his time with the Dogs. He had streaks here and there, but six years into his first grade career hes never really hit the heights one would expect from a halfback with his resume. With the Knights in desperate need of a little inspiration and creativity, Hodkinson must find some manner of consistency.
Anthony Watmough
Anthony Watmoughs decline from bruising Origin forward in 2014 to big money bust in 2015 needed to be seen to be believed. The veteran didnt just have a bad year in his first season in blue and gold, he was a downright liability. He crabbed across field throwing suicidal passes, he struggled with injuries all season that robbed him of much of his power and his decline was endemic of the malaise that engulfed the Eels throughout the tumultuous season. However, with a proper off-season (undoubtedly his first for many years) Watmough just might be able to squeeze out a few of the games that made him such a coveted signing. Given his pay packet, the Eels are sure hoping so.
Anthony Watmough had a rough first season with the Eels.Source:News Corp Australia
Mitchell Pearce
James Maloney and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck were the two most damaging attacking players in the Roosters squad last season by any measurement you want to bring to the table. Rarely does a team lose one star, let alone two, and given the uncertainty over who will play fullback for the Chooks and the inexperience of the impressive Jackson Hastings, there is more pressure on Mitchell Pearce than ever before at club level. Pearces best seasons have come when he was partnering Todd Carney and Maloney in the halves when hes been forced to be the main playmaker hes rarely starred. The capabilities of Pearce to dominate the attacking game will be the making of the Roosters in 2016.
Ben Hunt
Its a damn shame that all anybody will remember about Ben Hunt in 2015 was his infamous drop in the grand final, but thats the nature of the business. One of the best running halves in the competition, Hunt was one of the best in the competition all season and the scary part is that he can only get better as his combination with Darius Boyd and Anthony Milford continues to grow. However, can he recover psychologically from his grand final gaffe?
Daly Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans makes more money than God and has a contract that runs until the Second Coming. As such, theres a huge amount of pressure on him to deliver the goods and be the player the Sea Eagles need him to be in 2016. With the departure of Kieran Foran and the tremendous amount of player turnover at the Sea Eagles over the last two seasons much of which was to accommodate Cherry-Evans Trent Barrett will be praying to every God there is that his star halfback has the goods.
Originally published as The nine players under the most pressure in 2016