
Half-back Matt Frawley predicts the standard will rise across the board when the new campaign kicks off in two weeks’ time thanks to the number of NRL recruits, whilst also noting some of the exciting homegrown talent.
One of the biggest-name imports – former Parramatta Eels winger Maika Sivo – won’t play at all this year after suffering a season-ending knee injury during Leeds Rhinos’ win over Wigan Warriors in Ash Handley’s testimonial game last Sunday.
But Frawley – who featured for Canterbury Bulldogs and Canberra Raiders in Australia either side of two seasons with Huddersfield Giants – is excited by the quality of players who will be on show in Super League this year.
“I think the depth in all the teams last year was really good and it has gone up another level with people like Jared [Waerea-Hargreaves] at Hull KR coming over,” the Australian scrum-half said.
“Three of my former teammates at Canberra – Nicky Cotric, Elliott Whitehead [who have both signed for Catalans Dragons] and Jordan Rapana [Hull FC] – have come over.
“They are three seasoned NRL players who have played international footy, so I think it’s really good for the comp.”
Leeds and Wigan both gave some young players a run in the second half of last week’s game and, at least initially, Rhinos are likely to turn to home-grown talent to fill the gap left by Sivo’s injury.
“There’s some really good English players coming through as well, which is really important,” Frawley added.
“You can look at every team in the comp and there’s not going to be many easy games – everyone’s got some strike and some really good rosters. It’s going to make it challenging for everyone.”
