The kids are killing it in the NRL this year. It would be easier to stop Payne Haas on a surge towards the try-line than stop him from winning Rookie of the Year. He was joined in Origin by another babyface, David Fifita.
Bronson Xerri is still 18 but already a jet. You can’t have missed the spectacular efforts by flying teenage backs Jason Saab and Dylan Brown, and the Storm’s Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has only needed one outing to become hot property.
But the glow of these shiny new stars should not distract us from appreciating a vintage crop of veterans. The 10 oldest players in the league will not be around forever (with the obvious exception of Cameron Smith, likely to still be playing when Halley’s Comet next puts in an appearance) and we should enjoy this bunch of quirky individuals while we can.
John Sutton
The Bra Boy has had a solid 2019 after a strong 2018, and will probably go around again in 2020. Will anyone notice? Consistently underrated outside the Rabbitohs, his low error rate should be a model for any Souths player whose name starts with B and ends with urgess. Still looks like he could nod off at any moment. His pulse rate must be slower than treacle.
“This year the Cronulla captain became the player with the most losses in history”
Priceless, where is Ronnie when you need him ?