The prestigious National Rugby League kicked off in March this year and will be played through to the Australian summer. It was born in 1998 from the merger of two competitions, the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and the Australian Super League. Here are the 5 best players to watch this season!
James Tedesco, NRL Superstar
At 28, James Tedesco has won everything in club since he won in 2019 the Dally M Medal, which rewards the best player in the championship. Very fast back, Tedesco is a player capable of making spectacular raises thanks to his running speed and downforce. But he is also a player capable of creating differences for others thanks to his passing after contact and his vision of the game. His role will be to lead the ambitious Sydney Roosters to a 3rd title in 4 years.
Adam Reynolds, The Last Hurrah
Adam Reynolds, 30, was lucky enough to see his dream come true: playing for the club he supported as a child. He has become an emblem of his club, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Despite his small build (1m73, 85 kilos), Reynolds has established himself today as one of NRL’s best playmakers according to NRL 2021 tips and ranking. His busy kicking game is exceptional. As is his accuracy against pole vaults, being at 83% career success and 1636 points scored. Which is the 2nd total in the history of his club. Present in the first team since 2012, Reynolds realized another dream by becoming captain of the Rabbitohs last season. Nonetheless, the alarm clock could ring sharply at the end of the season. At the end of the contract when the season finishes, it is the last hurrah for Reynolds in 2021 and he will be hoping to guide his club to NRL glory.
Payne Haas, The Extraordinary Template
With an outsized build (1.94m, 120kg) Payne Haas, it only took two full seasons to establish himself as one of the best pillars in the world. But Haas is not just a mountain of muscle. He is an incredibly fast player, able to run around 31 km / h and drop a fullback on an outside hook. On top of that, the Broncos mainstay has tremendous stamina, allowing him to average nearly 70 minutes per game. Despite his young age, the young player is only 21 years old, Payne Haas will be one of the founding elements in the rebuilding of the prestigious Brisbane Broncos. The club from the capital of Queensland finished last in 2020. They will enter 2021 with a rematch to be taken.
Kalyn Ponga, The Best Fullback in The World
At 22, Kalyn Ponga is already one of the NRL’s headliners. Arriving at the Knights in 2018, Ponga took his club to the finals for the first time in nearly 10 years last season. Full-back with lightning downforce and unparalleled throwing quality, Ponga is a very spectacular player who is fun to watch. Despite his young age, Ponga has already established himself as one of the best fullbacks in the world, alongside James Tedesco. His club will need him at the top of his game to aim for qualification again.
Maika Sivo, The NRL Superpower
Last but not least. Maika Sivo, the 27-year-old sportsman, kicked off his NRL career in spectacular fashion. The championship’s top try scorer in his first season (20 tries in 2019), the Fijian winger confirmed last year by crossing the opposing line 15 times. A powerful winger, Sivo is more of the type to come home smashing the wall rather than gently stepping through the door. His destructive charges and running speed have put more than one NRL defender on the butt. The Fijian’s offensive performance caught the eye of Racing 92 who were keen to make Sivo the successor to Teddy Thomas. The latter should ultimately extend to Australia.
