RLW 2015 Rookie Team of the Year

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HoldenV8

Journey Man
Congratulations to Tommy Trbojevic who has been named at fullback for RLW's 2015 Rookie Team of the Year.

http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/rlws-...86452804729296&adbpl=fb&adbpr=110919635615955

1. TOM TRBOJEVIC (Sea Eagles)

Trbojevic-960x540.jpg


Age: 18. Games: 8

Tryscoring machine who has starred on the wing this year – but is a fullback-in-waiting and the man to fill the big shoes of Brett Stewart when he eventually retires. Blessed with blinding speed and great evasive skills, but also surprisingly strong for a player with a string-bean build. Scored with only his second touch in the top grade – and hasn’t looked back.

2. ETO NABULI (Dragons)
Age: 26. Games: 11

Fijian flyer who has finally fulfilled his destiny this season after being spotted by Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler working as a porter on the island nation in 2012. Spent two years learning the game in Penrith’s lower grades before grabbing his chance at the Dragons this season. Established himself as a real crowd-pleaser and has the athleticism and skill to be a first-grader for many years to come.

3. SOLOMONE KATA (Warriors)
The Tongan-born centre doesn’t speak English too well . . . but his actions do the talking for him. Got his chance earlier than expected due to a Warriors injury crisis at the start of the year . . . and played so well it was impossible for coach Andrew McFadden to drop him once the cavalry returned. Still has some rough edges on his game but is improving all the time. A future Test star.

Age: 20. Games: 22

4. WAQA BLAKE (Panthers)
Age: 20. Games: 16

The powerful centre has been hailed as the ‘Next Big Thing’ out Penrith way for the past couple of seasons – and he hasn’t disappointed since being given his chance. After just four games in the NRL, he won his first representative jumper for City Origin and impressed coach Brad Fittler with his size and mobility. Born in Fiji . . . but NSW are already looking at him as a potential Blue.

5. AARON GRAY (Rabbitohs)
Rabbitohs junior Gray has made a smooth transition from the Holden Cup to the NRL – and keeps scoring tries at a rapid rate. Melbourne were so impressed they tried to poach him last month but Gray has signed a new deal to stay at Redfern until the end of 2017. A real speedster with the ability to finish off the good work of his inside men, he’s destined for a long career in the red-and-green.

Age: 21. Games: 12

6. JACK BIRD (Sharks)
Dux of the 2015 class. No rookie has made a bigger impact in 2015 than Bird . . . even though he admitted to RLW last week he is struggling with second-half-of-the-year syndrome. Burst onto the scene in spectacular style with a two-try performance in a stunning upset over the Roosters in round five. A player of genuine class, he has starred at five-eighth but is equally at home at centre or back row.

Age: 20. Games: 19

7. KANE ELGEY (Titans)
The only thing that stopped Titans fans going completely bonkers when DCE backflipped in June was the fact this kid will be at the club until at least the end of 2017. The 2014 NYC Player of the Year has made a smooth transition into the top grade after making his debut in round four. Skilful, a good reader of play and will improve his defence with experience.

Age: 21. Games: 14

8. NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA (Storm)
Big, strong and fast, this Kiwi colossus has a touch of Sonny Bill Williams about him. Craig Bellamy is bringing the 200cm, 115kg along slowly this season but make no mistake, he’s something special and will come into his own during the next 12 months. He has the fourth highest percentage of fast play-the-balls in the NRL this year (43.8 per cent).

Age: 19. Games: 7

9. JOSH HODGSON (Raiders)
The oldest player in this year’s Rookie team, Hodgson was a regular top-grader in England before arriving in Canberra . . . but no one tipped him to be such an instant success in the NRL. Many of the Raiders’ wins have come on the back of his smart play from dummy half. Loves the tough stuff in the middle and has nailed four 40/20s in 2015 – the most in the NRL.

Age: 25. Games: 20

10. SHAUN LANE (Bulldogs)
The latest giant to roll off Des Hasler’s production line, Lane has slotted right into the massive Bulldogs pack. Didn’t make his debut until round 14 but has made up for lost time with a series of impressive performances. The giant Dog has used his 200cm frame to devastating effect, making a line break every 29 touches of the ball – the best strike rate of any Bulldogs forward.

Age: 20. Games: 10

11. FELISE KAUFUSI (Storm)
Born in Auckland but a Cowboys junior, Kaufusi was poached by the Storm in 2014 and has been patiently mentored by Craig Bellamy over the past 18 months. Strong and fast, he can break the line and also has impressive ball skills for a big man. Has already played a Test for Tonga and signed a two-year contract extension with Melbourne last month after approaches from rival clubs.

Age: 23. Games: 17

12. REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD (Panthers)
The Panthers showed just what they think of this 195cm forward in June when they put him on a new four-year deal – a massive show of faith in a local junior with just a handful of top-grade appearances to his name. Hasn’t missed a game in his debut season and averages the most metres by any Penrith forward in 2015 (103.3 per game).

Age: 22. Games: 22

13. CHRIS GREVSMUHL (Rabbitohs)
Former Australian Schoolboy from Townsville and the one who got away from the Cowboys. The attacking dynamo has made up for some of the aggression the Rabbitohs lost with the departure of Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o. Still pretty raw but he will develop into one of the best line-breaking forwards in the game if he continues to improve.

Age: 22. Games: 21

INTERCHANGE:
14. EUAN AITKEN (Dragons)
15. ALBERT VETE (Warriors)
16. JOE OFAHENGAUE (Broncos)
17. KODI NIKORIMA (Broncos)
 
If you could sign three of the above (excluding Tom) who would it be?

For mine

1.Campbell-Gillard
2.Bird
3.Grevsmuhl
 
Team P W L PD Pts
3 3 0 48 6
4 3 1 28 6
3 2 1 10 6
4 2 2 39 4
3 2 1 28 4
3 2 1 15 4
3 2 1 14 4
2 1 1 13 4
2 1 1 6 4
3 2 1 -3 4
3 1 2 0 2
3 1 2 -5 2
3 1 2 -15 2
3 1 2 -22 2
3 1 2 -36 2
2 0 2 -56 2
3 0 3 -64 0
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