NRL 2023: Every club’s most under-pressure player
The NRL season is fast approaching and many players, coaches and clubs will head into 2023 to look over their shoulder and feel the heat to perform.
Clubs like the Dragons, Knights and Titans will all be desperate to turn things around, while the pressure of winning back-to-back premierships will no doubt be on the Panthers.
Specifically, there’s a multitude of players who will be feeling the Heat for myriad reasons – whether they’re veteran players trying to keep youngsters in check or some rising stars pushing for an NRL spot.
The sports news have compiled a list of each club’s most pressured players heading into the following season.
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Brisbane Broncos – Jordan Riki
After a poor singles season, Jordan Riki is one player who’s in the spotlight for the Broncos heading into 2023.
The 23-year-old is not lacking in skill but his performances have not been up to par, averaging just 76 yards per game and missing 61 tackles over the year.
With some other good young players pushing for places in the Brisbane line-up including Brendan Piakura and Xavier Willison, the pressure is on Riki to improve his game in his fourth NRL campaign.
Canberra Raiders – Jordan Rapana
The most experienced player on this list, Jordan Rapana, has become something of a “Rocks and Diamonds” player for the Raiders – and things just seem to be getting worse.
The 33-year-old has become an undisciplined player, wasting penalties and making costly mistakes, and despite some strong running performances, his overall form for Canberra is faltering.
Charged during a pre-season game, Rapana narrowly avoided suspension and with plenty of competition for spots in the nation’s capital his time without a contract could be coming to an end for 2024 and beyond.
Canterbury Bulldogs – Kyle Flanagan
This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise – Kyle Flanagan is under immense pressure to improve and perform for Canterbury this season.
Since joining the club in 2021, Flanagan has managed just 13 assists in two seasons and his running game is virtually non-existent and poses no threat to opposition defences.
The 24-year-old is out of contract with the Bulldogs and the club have already expressed their lack of confidence in him, paying a hefty fee to bring young wild one Karl Oloapu on board on a long-term basis.
In the short term, Flanagan could be under pressure from the likes of Khaled Rajab and Josh Reynolds, both capable of playing in the halves.
Cronulla Sharks – Sione Katoa
It was a difficult decision given the overall strength of Cronulla’s best 17, but if we had to pick one player, it could be Sione Katoa who will eventually feel the hate.
A solid and consistent performer for the Sharks in recent years, notching 46 tries in 64 games and making the leap into representative football with Tonga.
Katoa is out of contract at the end of this season and with the club prioritizing other signings there is a belief he is not at the forefront of their plans.
The likes of Kayal Iro and Siteni Taukamo will be pushing hard from the bottom up later this year, and Katoa is likely the most vulnerable member of their cartel from the outside.
Dolphins—Anthony Milford
If we’re being completely honest, the entire Dolphins roster is under pressure before even kicking a ball in 2023.
With their inaugural season approaching and their trial form rather disappointing, the spotlight has immediately turned to playmaker Anthony Milford.
One of the few high-profile recruits for the Redcliffe-based franchise, Milford will reunite with former coach Wayne Bennett and hope to repeat the success of the Brisbane 2015 grand finals team.
Unfortunately for the 28-year-old, he’s not the same player he was eight years ago and is already facing competition from one of football’s hottest young players, Isaiya Katoa.
Gold Coast Titans – Tanah Boyd
Gold Coast has seen some major changes over the offseason, and one of them will see utility Tanah Boyd move to the No. 7 jumper full-time.
Product Keebra Park has been part of the Titans system for many years and while his opportunities have been slim so far, Boyd will be given the opportunity to assist veteran Premiership winner Kieran Foran in the halves.
The 22-year-old faces competition for places, with Toby Sexton and Thomas Weaver still in the mix for the playmaker role.
Male sea eagles – Josh Schuster
After the departure of the aforementioned Kieran Foran from the club, the pressure immediately turned to Josh Schuster in the five-eighth position.
The 21-year-old has featured in the back row for Manly for the past two seasons but his struggles with fitness and injury issues have become a major talking point.
Schuster was already ruled out of the season’s opening heat after succumbing to a calf problem, and given his already unknown skills as No. 6 in the top grade, things couldn’t have started worse.
Melbourne Storm – Tariq Sims
Veteran striker Tariq Sims, who has endured a string of poor seasons with the Dragons, will be looking for a fresh start when he joins Melbourne on a short-term deal.
The 33-year-old will be tasked with replacing four club greats at the Bromwich brothers, Felise Kaufusi and Brandon Smith this year – but he will also have some young guns behind him vying for places in the pack.
Sims has been underwhelming for a while, but a change of scenery and working under legendary trainer Craig Bellamy could help kick things off.
Newcastle Knights – Kalyn Ponga
Who else would that be?
Kalyn Ponga has signed a long-term, big-money deal to stay at Newcastle. He’s also moving back up to five eighths and has endured a poor season that has included injuries, concussions and off-field drama.
The QLD Origin superstar is under immense pressure to lift the struggling Knights out of the last four and back into the finals this season.
With a new half-partner in Jackson Hastings, there’s certainly room for optimism – but the biggest issue for Ponga will be staying healthy and making a consistent effort on the field.
New Zealand Warriors – Shaun Johnson
Shaun Johnson, one of the club’s all-time greatest players, faces a difficult task in turning things around for the Warriors this year.
After a place in the last four last year and a tough few years away from home, the club are returning to New Zealand and although they’ve recruited a bunch of players around him Johnson doesn’t have the cattle to bid for a top-flight place to fight. eight digit.
But the 32-year-old is past his best football and there are some talented youngsters including Ronald Volkman and Luke Metcalf already hot on his heels.
Johnson is also out of contract and will struggle to secure a 2024 extension.
North Queensland Cowboys – Coen Hess
North Queensland had a surprisingly stellar 2022 season, finishing in the top 4 in the NRL and narrowly missing out on a major finals appearance.
One player who found some of his former form was Coen Hess, but there’s a feeling his consistency and week-in-week impact aren’t where they could be.
Hess is expected to start the year on the back row due to the absence of Luciano Leilua, but his role could be changed later in the year with the likes of Mitch Dunn and Heilum Luki returning from injury.
Eels – Josh Hodgson
It’s going to be a difficult transition for Parramatta recruit Josh Hodgson, who is not only joining a new club but also coming off an ACL injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022 season.
The veteran England hooker is also tasked with replacing fan favorite Reed Mahoney in Springer No 9 and comes to the Eels at a time when they are recovering from a mass departure of key players.
Hodgson is a completely different player to Mahoney and given his age and injury history, keeping the blue and gold outfit in the Premiership chase will be a huge challenge.
Panthers- Mitch Kenny
Speaking of unenviable player positions – Penrith will also be forced to replace a dummy-half at elite level this year, with Api Koroisau joining the Tigers.
Mitch Kenny will likely deserve the starting role but will face stiff competition from Soni Luke who is more in the player’s Koroisau form.
With two players fighting for the same spot in the Premier League-winning Panthers, Kenny will be under pressure from the start.
Dragons – Jacob Liddle
While it’s no secret that head coach Anthony Griffin is under immense pressure, this list is all about players and it will be Jacob Liddle who could have a rough time.
The new recruit will replace the recently retired Andrew McCullough in the No. 9 jumper and seek to fix a position that has crippled the Red V for the past two seasons.
Unfortunately, Liddle doesn’t have a fantastic forward pack ahead of him and will also face plenty of competition from below in Haele Finau and Connor Muhleisen.
Rabbitohs – Isaiah Tass
South Sydney are the only club with no recruits and a fully stable squad by 2023, which could open the door for some young guns to push for a place in the top grade.
Isaiah Tass had a breakthrough year for the Bunnies, scoring three tries and producing eight try assists in his rookie NRL campaign, cementing his place at the centers.
However, players like Josiah Karapani and Terrell Kalo Kalo are both approaching a place in defence, and there will be only a slight drop in form for Tass to face the axe.
Roosters – Luke Keary
There’s always pressure when you wear the Roosters jersey, given their rich history and the demand for continued success every year.
But in the last couple of seasons the club have been without a Premiership or a major final appearance, which Trent Robinson just won’t take.
Sam Walker and Luke Keary are an elite half combo, but unless the squad can reach greater heights in 2023, attention will immediately turn to them.
Keary is still among the classiest players in the game when he’s fit and firing, but he’s struggling with injuries and concussions and he’s not getting any younger.
And if you think the Roosters wouldn’t beat a Premier League-winning playmaker after a few lean years in terms of results, just ask Mitchell Pearce.
Tigers – Luke Brooks
When is this guy not under pressure?
Luke Brooks has been the Tigers halfback for over a decade and despite that long tenure he has yet to make a single finals game or guide the club to a top-eight finish.
Brooks is out of contract but has been handed the keys to the Kingdom by new coaching duo Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall, who have put their faith in him for 2023.
But with so many quality players in the forward group and a hooker of representative caliber in Api Koroisau, it’s now or never for Brooks to step up and put his side in the promised land.