Which young forward is going to reach their potential this year?

[Fitzy]

I’d like to think Carrigan will win over a few critics once he returns to full fitness.

Having older guys like Capewell and James in the pack, along with Flegler, Haas, and Hetherington establishing themselves, and a strong captain in Reynolds around him, I think he can just focus on his own game and build toward the type of player he wants to be. It will help if Kev lets him play less minutes too.

He’s a very smart player and having a half that allows structured and smart plays should compliment him well. Far better than the erratic every man for himself style of Milford, TPJ, and Lodge.

100% I could really see a number of forwards really maturing this year and having greatly improved years. Carrigan is smart and works his absolute ass off. He is a front rower so let’s hope he gets used as one and proves his critics wrong who seemed very quick to forget his success in 2020 when pressure was highest on him. He seems like he is in a really good place mentality considering he just did rehab for an ACL, he is surrounded by some great leadership to lead him through not only his game but his future captaining aspirations.

 

[Fitzy]

I think it won't be until really late in the season but Willison. If he comes back ok and stays on the field, he could be a trump card toward finals.

I agree he was really impressive but he might be one to keep developing and beef up a bit he is really tall and lanky but if he comes back on fire by all means let’s use him aye.

 

[heartly87]

I think it won't be until really late in the season but Willison. If he comes back ok and stays on the field, he could be a trump card toward finals.

That kid is very impressive, he made his tackles and took the ball up without taking a step back. His potential is huge, not many props come into NRL like that. Tino comes to mind as modern comparison, I say Tino because Payne is something else all together.

 

[Scorchie]

Willson/Riki for sure
Flegler needs to sort his discipline out
Carrigan/Haas have shown enough and just need more support from the team.

 

[Chewed]

They should all shine this year, got a half who knows how to use them.

Riki outside Reynolds, with Staggs and Cobbo as foils and the lines he runs

Excited for this season.

 

[Big Del]

Hopefully we now have a half who will organise the plays so we arent throwing the ball to a forward on the 4th tackle. Have to say, it grinds my gears when people have a pop at forwards for taking the ball on the 4th tackle when its really down to the decision making of the 7 or 9 usually.

And the coach on Mondays ...
You think the coaches just let the hooker and half make up the game plan ? And never say we don`t want that .

 

[Wolfie]

And the coach on Mondays ...
You think the coaches just let the hooker and half make up the game plan ? And never say we don`t want that .

The coach dictates style and the game plan, but on the field it's down to the players to execute the plan. Ultimately, it's generally on the those two I mentioned in a game situation.

 

[007]

My bet is on Riki and Flegler to make some big progress. Have a feeling Kennedy might sign with Dolphins.

 

[BroncsFan]

Just imagine being fed good short balls from Reynolds. There's so much untapped potential with Haas, he has the ability to go up another level or two still.

He should be getting his short balls from the dummy half 2m out from the line

 

[Unbreakable]

If Riki continues to play as he did over the final 6 weeks of last season then he's the answer.

 

[Culhwch]

My roll of the dice is hetherington. He'll be a first teamer come end of season.

I wouldn't be surprised if any or all of the young forwards really stood up and met their potential this year, but I think Hetherington in particular has a great opportunity to cement that lock position and become one of those reliable guys that gives you consistent quality every game.

 

[Sproj]

Yeah its exciting that it seems like just about all the kids look about ready to take the next step. We have an amazing group potential wise and they might just be about ready to deliver finally.

 

[BroncsFan]

Yeah its exciting that it seems like just about all the kids look about ready to take the next step. We have an amazing group potential wise and they might just be about ready to deliver finally.

A fair chunk of that hinges on putting a capable spine together though.

Reynolds will need help and currently he's looking at a spine of Turpin, Niu and Kelly/Gamble/Walters/Ezra

If Ezra explodes and becomes a real focal point for our attack in the future then they can start thinking about contending. Same with Cobbo, Mozer/Paix, etc.

It's all potential at the moment and it's exciting, but we will need to see some runs on the board before we can start thinking about premiership windows

 

[1910]

Not sure if potential is the phrase but the forward I most want to see is Piakura. I don't think he will explode in form but I think a gradual season of improvement is possible.

518 minutes-less than six and a half games since October 2019.

I don't think he ever put attack and defence together in 21. His best attacking game was against Souths off Gamble, but his best defence was against the Hunters where he made lots of great last ditch efforts to stop the big boys- He's a classic Clyde tackler and I think if he can string 20 games together you will see that more and more.

I think he needs a good run of 60-70 minutes in ISC.

I would love to see 25 games this season, whatever the make up of that I don't really care but just some football.

Since 2019, sin binned, suspended, knocked out in the finals, misses a Grand Final- he's just had nothing.

 

[Fitzy]

A fair chunk of that hinges on putting a capable spine together though.

Reynolds will need help and currently he's looking at a spine of Turpin, Niu and Kelly/Gamble/Walters/Ezra

If Ezra explodes and becomes a real focal point for our attack in the future then they can start thinking about contending. Same with Cobbo, Mozer/Paix, etc.

It's all potential at the moment and it's exciting, but we will need to see some runs on the board before we can start thinking about premiership windows

Yeah the way I see it is that we have the roots of a premiership window just not the spine. But at the same time I feel like I just know Cobbo and Mam would brain it if we chucked them in right now we just can’t risk it. They definitely will be the spine players when that window opens. I can’t see Mozer quite being ready for that window so we either need Turpin to have slightly better service and regain a bit of that spark or creativity out of dummy half and we could well and truely be laughing. Just got to figure out 15 blokes that we desperately want to keep and than the other 15 if big deals come running we have to cut them loose. It will be tough but that’s the way we will keep our best or most valuable 15 instead of holding on to some cause it looks good on paper and then miss out on better players cause we don’t have money.

 

[McHunt]

I would like to know the forums opinion on who out of our pack is going to have their biggest year yet. Apart from the obvious one being Payne.

I see Fleggs having a big year but my choice for a break out year will be Ricky. Playing with Reynolds is my reasoning. He has shown his ability to break open the defence with good line and power play. Can absolutely see his game go to the next level next to an actual half.

You're kind of pretzeling your question here. We don't want any of our "young" forwards to reach their potential. That implies they'll peak young. We want them to age gracefully, picking up wisdom along the way.

I'm bullish on all our forwards. If I were to single out an emerging one to watch, it's Xavier Willison.

 

[Jedhead]

You're kind of pretzeling your question here. We don't want any of our "young" forwards to reach their potential. That implies they'll peak young. We want them to age gracefully, picking up wisdom along the way.

I'm bullish on all our forwards. If I were to single out an emerging one to watch, it's Xavier Willison.

Yeh i think young Willison was flying until that twat Radley illegally took him out last year. I loved the flair of TPJ and when he went I was pleased to see young Willison stepping up. He's not a TPJ I know, but he has a no nonsense style about him that makes him so likeable.

 

[heartly87]

You're kind of pretzeling your question here. We don't want any of our "young" forwards to reach their potential. That implies they'll peak young. We want them to age gracefully, picking up wisdom along the way.

I'm bullish on all our forwards. If I were to single out an emerging one to watch, it's Xavier Willison.

I was thinking back a few years ago when our young unproven pack was made out to be the best in the league, we got booted week one of the finals then came last haha, I was thinking about that potential. Also I don't know if potential is the same as being at your peak or reaching your ceiling as one has the potential to to improve year on year, and a young player should have a higher potential each year expected of them. In my opinion Payne has been the only forward achieving his potential each year.