SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Josh Reynolds of the Tigers runs with the ball during the round 16 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast Titans at Leichhardt Oval on July 1, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

1. Keiran Foran (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)

After being hampered by injuries and poor form in recent years, Keiran has to perform in order to re-establish himself as a dominant playmaker.

In a club that is rebuilding and has the youngest team in the NRL, all eyes will be on Keiran Foran to perform in 2019.

2. Shaun Johnson (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

He's one of the most talented and skilful players in the league, yet he also remains to be one of the most inconsistent.

Will Shaun Johnson thrive without the added pressure he had of being the main playmaker at the warriors?

3. Josh Reynolds (Wests Tigers)

After joining the Tigers on a big money contract in 2018, Josh will be hoping to stay injury free and play consistent footy to repay the faith to the club has put in him.

With Benji and Robbie looking to retire this year Josh Reynolds will be out to prove he still has something to offer to the Tigers going forward.

4. Anthony Milford (Brisbane Broncos)

Never really has hit the mark on a consistent basis, new coach Seibold will be hoping to unleash Milford's potential and take it to another level.

Consistency will be the main obstacle.

5. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)

Time to step up, mature and be the main organiser of the team.

After a somewhat dismal 2018, Mitchell Moses will need to prove his worth as a playmaker and cement a position in the halves in what will be a cutthroat season for the Eels.

29 COMMENTS

  1. I’d throw Norman and Widdop on that list. Norman for obvious reasons and Widdop as he should something to prove as he’s leaving early. As for Moses, that one is lucky to still be in first grade. Foran will last about a month before he breaks or goes of the rails. Johnson and Milford will dance around and look pretty without actually doing anything of substance. I think the grub is due for a decent season if he can stay injury free. He needs to to justify his salary.

  2. Yourself and Woodchook are under pressure this season to produce intelligent conversation on this site as opposed to vacuous dribble.

  3. If what I saw josh Reynolds doing in Bali is anything to go off he’s F$&7D,
    The guy was smoking and blind drunk everyday

  4. Haha, yeah thanks champ. Like someone from Lidcombe can talk about intelligent conversation. Back to your meth pipe genius.

  5. I’d put Aidan Sezer on that list also, with Austin gone it’s now Sezers team to stear around. Infact, I’d bet every team has at least 1 player under pressure to perform this season…

  6. Cowboys – Morgan
    Brisbane – Milford and Nikorima
    Titans – Taylor
    Souths – Inglis
    Roosters – Friend
    Storm – Croft and possibly Smith
    Sharks – Johnson Dugan Moylan Gallan
    Raiders – Sezer and Wighton
    Eels – Moses and Fergo
    Saints – Norman
    Dogs – Foran
    Knights – Ponga and Klemmer
    Manly – DCE and Elgy
    Tigers – Reynolds
    Warriors – Whoever partners Green in the halves

  7. Panthers dude. Maloney and Cleary would be my pick.

    I agree with most of your picks, but I think Ponga and Klemmer will be fine, it’s Pearce who’s under pressure at the knights to maintain last year’s form (and because he’s always under pressure for one reason or another). Love how you’ve named half the sharks line up hahaha

  8. Friend? More like Crichton on his big money.

    Inglis for me thou, he has played 2 years too long. A shadow of the player he was.

  9. Moses Mbye needs to have a good season.. the guy has been talking himself up since he cracked first grade and has nothing to show for it

  10. I agree with Ponga, has to justify all the hype but Smith and Cronk ? Doubt it, Smith is in a 2 year transition period where he will play less and less minutes. The only thing he wants is that 400 game title oh and the highest points scorer one which he will reach easily. Cronk ? he could sit on the sideline all year and still deliver – has nothing to prove. Inglis ?, I reckon he is stuffed. I don’t know what is going on with him but he is gonski.

  11. I think Milford will have a Hunt of a season, Shaun will turn the grubby gummy sharks into the new warriors, and Reynolds will end up playing off the bench as a utility, then off to English Super League to end his career. Moses has no excuse now but to take the team and roll with it now he is not competing with Norman, and I think all league fans hope Foran can get through the season and be at least 80% the player he once was.
    Most pressure is on Cam smith and Cronk, both played a year too long in my opinion, (a little like the other GOAT of this generation JT).
    Coach under pressure is old man Bennett, But none will be replaced mid season.

  12. Agreed, that’s a good list, but I’d add Napa to the Dogs side, after he serves a likely suspension.
    There’s likely to be several others that will be under enourmous pressure post this off season, like JDB for the first few rounds at least, Walker if he’s not found guilty etc etc etc.

  13. Yeah I agree with Crichton and the money he’s on, but I went with Friend because he is a leader at that club and throughout a season he can and does go missing a lot.

  14. Pressure is on Gallen to prove he hasn’t played on too long and DCE to continue form which saw him return to representatives football last season.

  15. Yeah he’ll probably play (unless the pc idiots brigade take over) the female in question going back to another nightclub with him after the alleged incident may have something to do with him pleading not guilty.

  16. I thought Cartwright was already dropped to park footy. I did consider him, but didn’t think he would be selected in the first 17 anyway…not with all the new signings.

Comments are closed.