To say I am excited for the 2024 season is a massive understatement.
Vegas? Eh. Origin? Pass. Week to week club Rugby League from Thursday until Sunday? Yes please!
One of the aspects of the game I enjoy the most across each season is seeing young talent to emerge to become superstars.
It seems like just yesterday that a young Nathan Cleary was debuting to huge promise. Or a hulking Payne Haas was quickly becoming an elite prop in his early days.
Who will it be in 2024 you ask? Well, let me tell you.
Below are ten players who I expect to become household names in 2024.
That's not to say they're complete unknowns now. Naming them suggests I know each player, something I'm sure many readers will have in common.
To the average punter though, if I asked them to name 100 NRL players, they probably wouldn't name any of the below.
These are more players I expect everyone to sit back this time next year and remark around what a star they became in 2024.
Please note: if you're here looking for either Jahream Bula or Jacob Preston, they both won their club's Player of the Year award and thus graduate from this list.
3. Tom Jenkins (Newcastle Knights)
A player that a few NRL fans would know due to his six NRL appearances, yet a player who has not even began to show what he can in the top grade.
A try scoring freak in the NSW Cup, Jenkins looked a straight swap for the outgoing Stephen Crichton in the centres for Penrith.
Newcastle swooped in to secure his services and have a genuine gun outside back on their books.
He'll likely have to bide his time on the wing given Bradman Best and Dane Gagai hold mortgages on the centre spots, but he'll see plenty of action next year.
If he's picked to start the season on the Knights wing, put him down for a serious haul of tries.
