BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 04: Selwyn Cobbo of the Broncos looks on during the round 25 NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Newcastle Knights at Suncorp Stadium, on September 04, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
One of my favourite events each and every NRL season is seeing young stars emerge.
Whether they be rookies who catch the attention of fans right away, like a Sam Walker or Reece Walsh, or a player who finally delivered on their promise, it never fails to bring a smile to fans' faces.
2022 looks like a season where a huge crop of talent see their stocks rise in a big way.
I'm going to look into my crystal ball and try to predict ten such players.
Players who will enjoy a Will Kennedy 2021-like season. Kennedy went from a handy fringe first grader to the star of the team over the course of this past year.
Players like Reece Walsh, Jayden Campbell and Sam Walker will be better at the end of 2022 than they are now, but their stocks are already sky high.
Much like past lists, this is purely for fun and not to be taken overly seriously. There will be misses on the below but if you asked me now; "Hey Dan, name 10 players you want to buy stock in now, to cash in end of season," these are those 10.
If you say the words "breakout 2022" the Canberra winger and fullback comes immediately to mind. He is the youngster I have marked as one of 2022's brightest.
Savage has Queensland Origin written all over him. I would not be shocked, at all, if he runs out on the wing for Origin 1 in Maroon.
The 19-year-old looks set to take over the custodian role for the Green Machine, meaning Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will shift into the centres.
Savage looked like a million dollars in his two games at fullback in 2021. 10 tackle breaks, a try and two try assists in his two games (plus 11 minutes that never should have been against the Dragons) shows his attacking potential.
If he's fit for Round 1, he's my pick for rookie of the year in 2022.
Latrell Mitchell's moment of madness meant that we were treated to an earlier glimpse of what young Blake Taaffe has to offer.
My guess is that he will fill the number seven role next to Cody Walker with Mitchell returning to the fullback role.
Taaffe is a freakish talent. He had five try assists, six line-break assists and a try in his eight NRL games. Even more impressive is that three of those games came in the finals, including a decider.
At 22 he is at his physical peak. With a brilliant supporting cast, I expect brilliant things from the Bunnies' youngster in 2022.
22-year-old Suluka-Fifita is a monster of a man. I am fearful of just how big he will be after a proper NRL off-season under his belt.
Truthfully his 2021 season was only average. There were moments he looked the real deal but ultimately he was overshadowed by much larger name teammates.
I expect that to change in 2022. He will be an absolute weapon from the bench.
I would be absolutely shocked if he doesn't feature in most, if not all, games this season as he pushes the older stateman for a starting birth.
Nick Meaney has shown signs of becoming a star for many seasons now. Craig Bellamy will be the man to bring the very best out of the 24 year-old.
Meaney had superstar written all over him the literal second he signed for the Storm. They have the best system in the game and Meaney is the prototype.
Reimis Smith had a magnificent year in the purple and I expect Meaney to produce very similar. They could even form a lethal edge.
Meaney is still in the infancy of his career but is yet to really nail down a full-time role. This will be the season, I have no doubt.
Despite being the second-most experienced of the players on this list, the Sharks number nine is set for a breakout season.
Brailey was solid in 2021. I'd argue he was better in 2020. The Sharks lack of forwards being able to tackle absolutely stunted young Brails.
The incoming Craig Fitzgibbon, as well as tackling machines Cameron McInnes and Dale Finucane will allow Brailey to use some energy for his attacking game.
Brailey has now re-committed to the Sharks on a long-term deal, which shows Fitzgibbon has belief in a number nine who promises so much.
This will be the most difficult to justify here as the Hammer is already of Origin pedigree after a brilliant 2021 season.
I expect Tabuai-Fidow to lift into a different stratosphere in 2022, whether at fullback or in the centres.
His career is still only 27 NRL games old. Injury robbed him of any sort of consistency in 2021. Every time he looked ready to explode, he would miss weeks through injury.
He looked at his very best when in the number one jersey, but given the reported $900,000 being paid to Valentine Holmes, he may have to bide his time back in the centres.
If the Cowboys are going to produce anything special in 2022, it will come via the Hammer. He'll make an Origin centre spot his own next season.
This one is borderline cheating as Suaalii has been named as a future megastar for two seasons now, but 2022 is the season he will realise his massive potential.
He was pretty good in 2021. Given the stacked Roosters roster and his young age, 2021 was never going to be a career-defining season.
There's every chance that Suaalii partners Joseph Manu in the centres from Round 1 in 2022. He has another full off-season under his belt heading into 2022 also.
It's worth remembering that Suaalii is still only 18 years of age. I have a feeling that 2022 will be a year to remember for the Roosters prodigy.
Dragons fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief as their future long-term number six signed a long contract extension to stay in the Red V.
With Corey Norman no longer blocking his passageway to first grade, I expect the 20-year-old to feature from Round 1.
He has five NRL games to his name but the season was well gone by the time he made his debut. The minutes would be good but the situation was dire.
Sullivan has all the skills to ensure the Dragons can be excited about their halves pairing for the first time in a few seasons now.
I'm not going to win any awards for this selection, everyone has Cobbo in their future superstar list. For good reason!
Forget the Greg Inglis comparisons, let the kid be Selwyn Cobbo. He has a massive future ahead of him.
With Kotoni Staggs moving into the halves, Cobbo has the centre spot right there. I dare say he might be in the Fullback talks though, at least long-term.
He will be a weapon out wide as he grows into his skills. He's still only 19. A scary talent who will deliver outside a brilliant half in Adam Reynolds.
Sasagi is the only player on this list I'm not certain (injury allowing) will start in Round 1. He certainly should!
All the talk coming out of the Hunter is that young Simi is already more than matching it with his more experienced, older and larger teammates.
He has two NRL games to his name, one at centre and one from the bench, but he could very well be the silver lining in Mitchell Pearce leaving the club.
It will be a lot of pressure to throw a 20-year-old in to partner Jake Clifford but no matter where Sasagi ends up, he will have a breakout 2022 season.