3 minute read
Every NRL club has holes and question marks over their roster headed into the Christmas break and the resumption of training in 2021.
WHAT NRL CLUBS NEED FOR 2021:-
BRISBANE: The Broncos' wishlist is a long one. But top of the pile is some much-needed confidence for Brodie Croft or another answer to their play-making woes. A forward pack meeting their potential and spark at fullback are among others.
CANBERRA: Some luck with injury. Canberra's underrated middle did well to get them to the third week of the finals in 2020 but they looked tired in their loss to Melbourne. Of the top-eight teams, only Cronulla ran less metres than them.
CANTERBURY: Matt Burton's early release from Penrith. The chances of that look increasingly unlikely but Trent Barrett is a good attacking coach and the sooner he can start the Bulldogs' new era with Burton and Kyle Flanagan at the fore, the better.
CRONULLA: An answer to their defensive woes. Despite making the top eight, the Sharks missed the most tackles in the NRL in 2020 with more than 31 per game.
GOLD COAST: They'll expect big things from David Fifita and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, but a fit AJ Brimson is their main wish. The Titans won six of nine with him in 2020 compared to three of 11 without him.
MANLY: Tom Trbojevic's fitness aside, the Sea Eagles want a not-guilty verdict for Manase Fainu. Manly missed his spark out of dummy-half dearly in 2020 while stood down for an alleged stabbing and have since let Danny Levi go. As things stand ahead of Fainu's trial in July, Lachlan Croker and Cade Cust remain their main options at hooker.
MELBOURNE: Skipper Cameron Smith confirming he is playing on. Failing that, Craig Bellamy will hope Harry Grant can bring his Wests Tigers form back to the club. Only Smith scored more Dally M points than him of all hookers in 2020.
NEWCASTLE: For a team that has an x-factor like Kalyn Ponga, they are strangely looking to find some spark in 2021. They ranked only 11th for linebreaks despite making the finals and scored the second least tries of all teams from their own end.
NORTH QUEENSLAND: The Cowboys want nothing more than Michael Morgan back to his best. He managed just six games in 2020 and hasn't played a full season since North Queensland made the grand final in 2017. Finding someone to partner him at half is the other challenge for coach Todd Payten.
PARRAMATTA: A solution in the centres. George Jennings and Brad Takairangi are gone while Michael Jennings has been stood down following a positive drug test. While Waqa Blake's defence proved an issue at times on the right last year, either Michael Oldfield or Tom Opacic will play on the left.
PENRITH - More of the same from Nathan Cleary. The Panthers are hoping their No.7's heartbreaking end to the year doesn't dent his confidence. Cleary helped Penrith lead the NRL for possession, territory, repeat sets, completions and most attacking stats.
SOUTH SYDNEY: A fit Latrell Mitchell back to his best. Mitchell's performances at fullback were heavily analysed in 2020 but there was no doubt he was getting back to his best just before he ruptured a hamstring tendon. With him flying at the back, Souths could have close to the best spine in the competition.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA: A spine they can lock down for the year. Anthony Griffin faces the immense task of working out where to play Ben Hunt and Corey Norman before sorting out the rest of the 17 from there.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS: A fit and healthy Boyd Cordner. No team would have enjoyed the break more than the Roosters but Cordner's future remains up in the air after repeated concussions. The 28-year-old Kangaroos skipper is an inspirational leader at the Roosters.
WARRIORS: Some clarity on where they will play. The Warriors are already resigned to being in camp in NSW for the first month of the season after a gutsy year away from home in 2020. Officials believe last season can be the making of the club, but another year on the road would challenge anyone.
WESTS TIGERS - A goalkicker. The 29 goals the Tigers missed last year were the most in the NRL. Likely five-eighth Adam Doueihi, Moses Mbye and Benji Marshall weren't helped by how many tries were scored out wide but the Tigers need to fix this to win close games in 2021.
