Jot them down.
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.
Broncos
Ezra Mam: Ben Ikin has a huge rap on this teenager who grew up playing street touch with his cousins Edrick and Brenko Lee. Ezra played in the halves for Souths Logan Magpies in 2021 and was the Q Cup’s rookie of the year. Super exciting ball-playing, ball-running half who is also a very solid defender. While he’ll be pushing it to start the season ahead of the likes of Tyson Gamble, Albert Kelly and Billy Walters, they reckon by the end of 2022 Ezra could easily have a permanent home outside Adam Reynolds in the Broncos’ starting halves.
Brendan Piakura: This is the boom backrower the Bulldogs went hard for before the Broncos handed him a three-year deal worth a reported $1.2m. Though his much-hyped NRL debut didn’t go exactly to plan when he was binned for a late shot on young Cronulla playmaker Braydon Trindall after Piakura was on the field for just six minutes. Has the potential to be an out-and-out NRL star.
Blake Mozer: Still only 17 but a dummy half who stands six foot in the old scale and those who have watched him closely reckon he has a Cameron Smith style about him the way he can size up the opposition in the blink of an eye. Came through Keebra Park and also has good speed. Might be two or three years off NRL.
Xavier Willison: Only 19 but the former Palm Beach Currumbin captain has already played three NRL games in the front row and has extended his contract until the end of 2023. A big talent but equally impressive is the way he rolls up his sleeves for hard work.
Benjamin Te Kura: Teenage backrower with a huge future ahead of him. Tall and rangy, he was named in the Queensland 16-18 years team and the Broncos rate him up with the best young players coming through.
Rabbitohs
Terrell Kalo Kalo: Another gun from Penrith’s junior system who slipped through the net to end up on a Souths’ scholarship at Scots College. The word at the Rabbitohs is that when Joseph Suaalii was the young gun everyone was raving about, those in the know at Souths always thought Kalo Kalo wasn’t that far behind. Can play anywhere in the outside backs with good height, plenty of pace and all the skills. Didn’t play a lot of footy in 2021 after copping a head knock but has gone straight into the top 30. Could easily find his way into the NRL team at some stage in 2022.
Josiah Karapani: Another outside back who could end up cracking an NRL debut at some stage in 2022. Powerfully built in a Konrad Hurrell-type frame, he’s a beast with a handy offload. Another of the youngsters the Rabbitohs rate very highly.
Tallis Duncan: Was with the Roosters but switched to their arch rivals because he thought he could get more of an opportunity at Souths. Has since progressed from SG Ball to Jersey Flegg. Still a way off competing for an NRL spot but has a style not unlike Cam Murray with an extremely high work rate and does everything at 100 per cent. Wears white head gear so easy to spot.
Ben Lovett: From Parkes originally and was the Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2021. Another backrower who just doesn’t stop and has earned himself a chance to impress while training with the top squad over summer before he goes back to a NSWRL contract. Would need a few injuries to get his shot but another name for the future.
Zane Bijorac: A big outside back, tall and very athletic who looks an absolute nightmare to tackle. Came from down Canberra way initially before moving to Souths to play Flegg. Has now had a few games in NSW Cup but is in the top 30 squad going forward.
Dragons
Josh Coric: A young middle from Albion Park who was also a part of that SG Ball premiership winning team back in 2019. Given the depth and experience of the Dragons’ pack that has added likes of Aaron Woods, George Burgess and Francis Molo, Coric will have to be patient for his chance at NRL. But he has time on his side and a contract until 2024, so the club obviously sees him as a part of their succession plan.
Jackson Shereb: Another to graduate from that gun SG Ball side, this bloke plays backrow and looks a real athlete. Big, powerful with good speed and skills, he was really impressive in his appearances in NSW Cup before suffering a knee injury.
Connor Muhleisen: A tough little hooker who was the SG Ball captain and has enough speed to cause some headaches out of dummy half. Won’t go onto a development contract until 2023 but looks to be the future No 9 given he’s the only internal long term hooking option at the moment beyond Andrew McCullough.
Shalom O’Ofou: A hard running, tough tackling middle forward who looks really promising with a style not unlike Tyson Frizell. Still only 19 but played 11 NSW Cup games in 2021 and goes onto a development contract next season.
Jaiyden Hunt: A no-nonsense prop who won’t win many headlines but at 23 you can’t help but admire his dedication and determination to get his crack at the NRL. After starting out at the Easts Tigers in Brisbane, he played under 20s for Melbourne before returning to the Tigers where the Dragons signed him on a train-and-trial contract. He then ended up getting four NRL games this year and it’s a credit to him that Anthony Griffin has kept him despite the arrival of some big name front rowers.
Wests Tigers
Dudley Dutoi: An outside back from Kirwan High in Townsville where there’s been a production line of NRL graduates including the likes of Brandon Smith, Jason Taumalolo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in recent years. Was also a standout in the Blackhawks junior ranks. Fast and elusive with a terrific fend. Has signed a two-year deal and will train with the top squad over summer.
Brandon Webster-Mansfield: A big backrower from St Gregs who was hardly noticed coming through the grades but has come along in leaps and bounds. Started off as a centre so he has some speed and runs a really good line. Is now training with the top squad heading into Christmas. At 21 still needs to put on some weight but is a future first grader.
Fonua Pole: A teenage prop who took a gigantic jump in 2021, going from SG Ball to Jersey Flegg and then up to NSW Cup in the one season. Extremely fit with good leg speed, the Tigers expect big things in the coming years.
Brandon Tumeth: The one name that always gets mentioned when the Tigers young guns come up for discussion. Like Pole did the jump from Ball to NSW Cup this year where he started in the backrow. Still young enough to play Ball next year but has just jumped ahead of the pack.
Justin Matamua: Man of the match in City-Country under 18s this year. This powerfully built lock is a real strong runner of the footy but he has good hands having dabbled in the halves coming through the juniors. Another graduate from Westfields Sports High, is still SG Ball age but has enormous potential.
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.
Broncos
Ezra Mam: Ben Ikin has a huge rap on this teenager who grew up playing street touch with his cousins Edrick and Brenko Lee. Ezra played in the halves for Souths Logan Magpies in 2021 and was the Q Cup’s rookie of the year. Super exciting ball-playing, ball-running half who is also a very solid defender. While he’ll be pushing it to start the season ahead of the likes of Tyson Gamble, Albert Kelly and Billy Walters, they reckon by the end of 2022 Ezra could easily have a permanent home outside Adam Reynolds in the Broncos’ starting halves.
Brendan Piakura: This is the boom backrower the Bulldogs went hard for before the Broncos handed him a three-year deal worth a reported $1.2m. Though his much-hyped NRL debut didn’t go exactly to plan when he was binned for a late shot on young Cronulla playmaker Braydon Trindall after Piakura was on the field for just six minutes. Has the potential to be an out-and-out NRL star.
Blake Mozer: Still only 17 but a dummy half who stands six foot in the old scale and those who have watched him closely reckon he has a Cameron Smith style about him the way he can size up the opposition in the blink of an eye. Came through Keebra Park and also has good speed. Might be two or three years off NRL.
Xavier Willison: Only 19 but the former Palm Beach Currumbin captain has already played three NRL games in the front row and has extended his contract until the end of 2023. A big talent but equally impressive is the way he rolls up his sleeves for hard work.
Benjamin Te Kura: Teenage backrower with a huge future ahead of him. Tall and rangy, he was named in the Queensland 16-18 years team and the Broncos rate him up with the best young players coming through.
Rabbitohs
Terrell Kalo Kalo: Another gun from Penrith’s junior system who slipped through the net to end up on a Souths’ scholarship at Scots College. The word at the Rabbitohs is that when Joseph Suaalii was the young gun everyone was raving about, those in the know at Souths always thought Kalo Kalo wasn’t that far behind. Can play anywhere in the outside backs with good height, plenty of pace and all the skills. Didn’t play a lot of footy in 2021 after copping a head knock but has gone straight into the top 30. Could easily find his way into the NRL team at some stage in 2022.
Josiah Karapani: Another outside back who could end up cracking an NRL debut at some stage in 2022. Powerfully built in a Konrad Hurrell-type frame, he’s a beast with a handy offload. Another of the youngsters the Rabbitohs rate very highly.
Tallis Duncan: Was with the Roosters but switched to their arch rivals because he thought he could get more of an opportunity at Souths. Has since progressed from SG Ball to Jersey Flegg. Still a way off competing for an NRL spot but has a style not unlike Cam Murray with an extremely high work rate and does everything at 100 per cent. Wears white head gear so easy to spot.
Ben Lovett: From Parkes originally and was the Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2021. Another backrower who just doesn’t stop and has earned himself a chance to impress while training with the top squad over summer before he goes back to a NSWRL contract. Would need a few injuries to get his shot but another name for the future.
Zane Bijorac: A big outside back, tall and very athletic who looks an absolute nightmare to tackle. Came from down Canberra way initially before moving to Souths to play Flegg. Has now had a few games in NSW Cup but is in the top 30 squad going forward.
Dragons
Josh Coric: A young middle from Albion Park who was also a part of that SG Ball premiership winning team back in 2019. Given the depth and experience of the Dragons’ pack that has added likes of Aaron Woods, George Burgess and Francis Molo, Coric will have to be patient for his chance at NRL. But he has time on his side and a contract until 2024, so the club obviously sees him as a part of their succession plan.
Jackson Shereb: Another to graduate from that gun SG Ball side, this bloke plays backrow and looks a real athlete. Big, powerful with good speed and skills, he was really impressive in his appearances in NSW Cup before suffering a knee injury.
Connor Muhleisen: A tough little hooker who was the SG Ball captain and has enough speed to cause some headaches out of dummy half. Won’t go onto a development contract until 2023 but looks to be the future No 9 given he’s the only internal long term hooking option at the moment beyond Andrew McCullough.
Shalom O’Ofou: A hard running, tough tackling middle forward who looks really promising with a style not unlike Tyson Frizell. Still only 19 but played 11 NSW Cup games in 2021 and goes onto a development contract next season.
Jaiyden Hunt: A no-nonsense prop who won’t win many headlines but at 23 you can’t help but admire his dedication and determination to get his crack at the NRL. After starting out at the Easts Tigers in Brisbane, he played under 20s for Melbourne before returning to the Tigers where the Dragons signed him on a train-and-trial contract. He then ended up getting four NRL games this year and it’s a credit to him that Anthony Griffin has kept him despite the arrival of some big name front rowers.
Wests Tigers
Dudley Dutoi: An outside back from Kirwan High in Townsville where there’s been a production line of NRL graduates including the likes of Brandon Smith, Jason Taumalolo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in recent years. Was also a standout in the Blackhawks junior ranks. Fast and elusive with a terrific fend. Has signed a two-year deal and will train with the top squad over summer.
Brandon Webster-Mansfield: A big backrower from St Gregs who was hardly noticed coming through the grades but has come along in leaps and bounds. Started off as a centre so he has some speed and runs a really good line. Is now training with the top squad heading into Christmas. At 21 still needs to put on some weight but is a future first grader.
Fonua Pole: A teenage prop who took a gigantic jump in 2021, going from SG Ball to Jersey Flegg and then up to NSW Cup in the one season. Extremely fit with good leg speed, the Tigers expect big things in the coming years.
Brandon Tumeth: The one name that always gets mentioned when the Tigers young guns come up for discussion. Like Pole did the jump from Ball to NSW Cup this year where he started in the backrow. Still young enough to play Ball next year but has just jumped ahead of the pack.
Justin Matamua: Man of the match in City-Country under 18s this year. This powerfully built lock is a real strong runner of the footy but he has good hands having dabbled in the halves coming through the juniors. Another graduate from Westfields Sports High, is still SG Ball age but has enormous potential.
