NRL

Former Super League man named NRL ‘buy of the year’ by leading voice

by
Sam Cook
April 3, 2025

It’s Round Five of the NRL season and shouts are already being made for the ‘buy of the year’ with a former Super League man tipped up.

The NRL season was launched in Las Vegas with two games being played at Allegiant Stadium before the remainder of Round One concluded back Down Under the week after.

There has been a new contender to emerge with Canterbury Bulldogs the only club to win four from their opening four whilst champions Penrith have had a rocky start, losing their last three despite winning in Vegas.

One of the other teams that played and won in Las Vegas but have struggled since is Canberra Raiders with the Green Machine playing against Cronulla Sharks this morning.

The Raiders traditionally have a strong English connection and another Super League man joined the capital club this year in Matty Nicholson, who has now been described as the “buy of the year”.

Former Super League man named NRL ‘buy of the year’ by leading voice

Nicholson has enjoyed a glorious start to life as a Raider although he didn’t get the chance to debut in Las Vegas alongside his former team Warrington Wolves.

Instead, he had to wait for Round Two when he scored a try just seconds after coming on with the second-rower bagging a brace that day as the Raiders beat Brisbane Broncos.

Nicholson played loose forward in that game but he has reverted to his more natural second-row slot now with fellow Englishman and former Super League star Morgan Smithies locking the pack.

In his first three games, Nicholson has averaged 38 tackles a game, missing just five all season to give him a success rate of 96% but it’s his contributions in attack that have caught the eye.

Nicholson was on the scoresheet again today, scoring the opener as Canberra hosted Cronulla Sharks and that score prompted a renowned NRL journalist to give Nicholson his props.

The Mole took to X to post: “Matty Nicholson has to be a contender for buy of the year for Canberra Raiders.”

The former Wigan and Warrington man had spoken with NRL media prior to that game to explain that he is growing every week.

“I’m loving it,” he declared.

“I’m learning every week which is good and growing every week. I’m just trying to improve my game. I’m lucky enough to have my Dad here tonight so hopefully we can make it a special night.”