Each and every year, a stand out few NRL players rise from the pack. They finally find that coach who inspires them, or that diet that enables peak performance, or that special something that sees them realize their potential.
In 2018, Valentine Holmes became a genuine superstar. The potential and talent had always been there, but the positional play and ball playing skill seemed to blossom, making Holmes one of the game's elite.
Damien Cook went from fringe first grader to the number one number nine in the game. All he needed was a coach that believed in him and let him play his natural game.
Latrell Mitchell pushed the who's who of centres aside in ascending to the position's top player. His fellow Rooster in Luke Keary ended the season as arguably the competition's form player.
We all know about the rise of Kalyn Ponga.
2017 saw Coen Hess graduate from decent forward to absolute wrecking ball. He now has a closet full of Origin jumpers and plenty more in the future. Tommy Turbo burst onto the scene in a big, big way.
So who will it be in 2019?
It's suuuuper early, and plenty can happen between now and the start of the season next year, but as it stands here are the top five players I expect to become genuine superstars in 2019.
For the point of this, I don't mean break out stars, or rookies to make names for themselves. I'm referring to first graders who will elevate into genuine superstar status.
5. Joseph Manu (Roosters):
Although it was his Roosters centre partner grabbing all the headlines in 2018's title-winning season, young Joseph Manu quietly established himself as an absolute weapon out wide.
His destruction of the aforementioned Mitchell in the recent Test just drove home what many already knew, this kid is the real deal.
At 22 yearss of age he will bring up his 50th game in the early rounds of 2019. I fully expect him to rise to Mitchell 2018-like form and form the game's best centre partnership.
There is literally nothing this kid cannot do. He's a freakish talent playing outside a representative half and inside a representative winger.
