OPINION
If the Rabbitohs need to win their first premiership in a decade then I consider a transfer to the halves for Latrell Mitchell to accomplice Cody Walker ought to be on the playing cards.
Walker is an skilled ballplayer who may steer the facet round at halfback whereas Mitchell injects himself when mandatory within the No. 6 jersey.
Mitchell has lengthy been in comparison with NRL legend Greg Inglis, who performed most of his profession at fullback but in addition received a Clive Churchill Medal at five-eighth.
Mitchell may play the identical function in assault in addition to he does at fullback, present an actual bodily presence within the defence line and be extra environment friendly together with his efforts.
I genuinely consider Walker is without doubt one of the most pure rugby league gamers of the 2000s and must be handed the reins at halfback whereas he’s nonetheless on the peak of his powers so he can actually personal the end result every week.
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We’ve seen a participant like Nicho Hynes win a Dally M Medal in 2022 from halfback after enjoying quite a lot of positions all through his profession and with all due respect Cody is a stage above him.
Playing Jack Wighton at fullback for his first season at South Sydney – the place he performed for the primary half of his profession – will permit him to have excessive involvement and go away Isaiah Tass within the centres.
You must get essentially the most out of your star recruits and Wighton is just too gifted to be enjoying left centre on the Rabbitohs.
To be trustworthy, due to the way in which the Souths assault, their form and the fellows round them the left centre place is one which could possibly be fulfilled by a participant of lesser worth.
Look at a participant like Alex Johnston who has held down their left wing place for the final eight years, he’s going to complete his profession as essentially the most prolific tryscorer in historical past – and but has by no means performed for New South Wales.
Compared to one of the best groups in NRL final yr South Sydney lacked the flexibility to generate massive metres gained by the wingers & fullback. Jack Wighton at fullback will begin their units off proper and I consider this may have an enormous impact their consistency & means to win in October.
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RAIDERS’ CHANCE TO RESET
Everyone is taking a look at who will substitute Jack Wighton within the No. 6 jersey, however what is going to actually form the Raiders’ 2024 season is who performs fullback.
The choices are Jordan Rapana, Seb Kris, Xavier Savage, Kaeo Weekes and highly-rated younger gun Chevy Stewart.
Stuart is a famous person of the long run however he’s nonetheless solely 18 and wishes just a little extra time to develop earlier than being thrown into one of many sport’s most necessary positions.
If I used to be Ricky Stuart, I’d begin the season with Rapana then blood Stewart within the second half of the yr.
Weekes provides an entire completely different dimension to their sport and can get first crack at changing Wighton within the halves.
Kris may kind a formidable centre pairing with Matt Timoko they usually want Savage on the wing as his velocity is unmatched.
Losing Wighton is an opportunity for the Raiders to reset and set up a brand new fashion of play for the soccer staff. Jack has at all times had an impression on the Raiders’ outcomes, however in 2024 they’ve a possibility to evolve their assault.
There’s a number of younger rising gamers down in Canberra and if Ricky can get one of the best out of them then they will end in the course of the pack and springboard into 2025 on the again of the expansion.
Joe Tapine and Josh Papali’i are nonetheless the most effective front-row duos within the competitors, whereas Hudson Young and Corey Horsburgh are each Origin gamers.
There’s already loads of folks writing off the Raiders in 2024 however I believe they’ll trigger a number of groups complications.
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RED-HOT ROOSTERS
I do know everybody says it yearly however the Roosters have the NRL’s greatest staff on paper and in the event that they keep match it’s laborious to see them lacking out on the 2024 grand remaining.
The Roosters at all times appear to get their man and hardly lose those they need to hold – and it’s the identical story going into 2024.
A bunch of gamers have been moved on – however none have been stars – they usually’ve recruited worldwide winger Dom Young, who simply broke the Knights’ single-season tries document (25).
The Roosters at the moment are so stacked within the backs that there received’t be room within the beginning line up subsequent yr for considered one of Daniel Tupou or Billy Smith.
They’ve additionally added three-time premiership winner Spencer Leniu to their pack, whereas rising backrowers Naufahu Whyte and Siua Wong are each weapons.
And I haven’t even talked about the likes of James Tedesco, Joey Manu, Luke Keary, Brandon Smith, Lindsay Smith and Victor Radley.
No different staff has such a mix of playmakers, Keary’s imaginative and prescient, Smith’s creativity, Tedesco’s nous and Manu’s energy. It’s all there.
A go mark for the Roosters in 2024 can be making the preliminary finals, something wanting that can be a failure.
I’m actually to see the way it all comes collectively after it took so lengthy for coach Trent Robinon to get issues clicking in 2023.
Robbo begins the season with a easy sport plan then builds on it all year long. They left their run just a little too late this yr however mark my phrases they’ll be higher for it subsequent yr.
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