Roosters teenager Sam Walker heads Moley's Rookie All Stars team of 2021.
At the three-quarter mark of the season, Walker has been the outstanding new talent to emerge on the NRL landscape, coming to the rescue of the injury-ravaged Roosters mid-season.
But there have been a host of other bright new faces to emerge, with Warriors whiz kid Reece Walsh and Titans speedster Jayden Campbell also giving fans plenty of exciting moments.
Note that this is a a team of TRUE rookies - players who made their debuts this year - thus, good young players like Charlie Staines, Daine Laurie and Josh Schuster, who played NRL last season, were not considered.
Meet the Rookie Class of 2021.
REECE WALSH (Warriors): Broke onto the NRL scene with cyclone force, showing great pace and evasive skills. How the Broncos let this one escape remains a mystery.
ZAC CINI (Wests Tigers): Has only played two games to date, but the flying mullet man from Minchinbury wins a spot in the team for an unforgettable debut against the Dragons, in which he scored a try and had another disallowed.
ROCCO BERRY (Warriors): A strongly-built 20-year-old centre, debuted against the Storm in round seven and looked right at home. Now a regular in the Warriors backline.
AARON SCHOUPP (Bulldogs): Came into first grade in tough circumstances in a Bulldogs team struggling to win games but has looked the goods, running with plenty of power out wide.
JOSEPH SUAALII (Roosters): The headline-grabbing youngster hasn't quite lived up to the hype of being the 'next Folau' but has made a solid start to his NRL career before suffering a season-ending injury recently. Will improve with a full off season.
JAYDEN CAMPBELL (Titans): The son of former Dally M Medallist Preston Campbell has looked good in several starts with the Titans at fullback but gets a spot at five-eighth, where he has also played plenty of his junior footy.
SAM WALKER (Roosters): Wasn't supposed to debut this year but was forced to come into the team due to the Roosters' injury crisis. Looks like the ball boy but plays like a future Origin star.
KOBE HETHERINGTON (Broncos): It's never easy debuting in a team that is getting smacked most weeks but the son of former Bulldog Jason Hetherington has made a good start to his NRL career playing lock for the Broncos.
EGAN BUTCHER (Roosters): Wasn't expected to play first grade this year but with the Roosters' injury crisis, opportunity came knocking and he has made the most of it.
TC ROBATI (Broncos): Kiwi-born forward who has had to learn the hard way in the struggling Broncos side, but is on the improve and has plenty of potential.
ZAC SADDLER (Sea Eagles): After representing the Indigenous All-Stars for the past two seasons, Saddler has been given a chance by Des Hasler and been a good addition to the Manly pack. Has played second-row but comes into our team as prop.
JAKE SIMPKIN (Wests Tigers): A wily hooker who showed his potential by grabbing the No.9 jumper from highly-rated Jacob Liddle for five games early in the season. May need to move clubs to become an NRL regular, however.
WIREMU GREIG (Eels): A 124-kilo colossus, the 21-year-old joined the Eels early in the season from the Cowboys and is being brought along slowly but surely by coach Brad Arthur. An impact player who will play plenty of NRL next season.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/mole-rookie-all-stars-team-2021-sam-walker-reece-walsh-joseph-suaalii/7ec6c729-6952-40f6-8118-d8e7315626a5
0 Comments