The player from every club that’s set to breakout in 2021

We spend the off-season yammering away about the stars of our game and their potential contract moves and off-field dramas, but now is the time that the unknowns of each NRL roster are ploughing through pre-season, working their butts off to ensure that the next season is their year. And while not all make it, we are blessed with a host of breakout talents year after year, youngsters ready to make their mark and begin their rugby league career as others draw close, and the cycle goes on. Every club has their own stars ready to make a name for themselves, and here's each club's star on the rise ahead of the 2021 season. Brisbane Broncos Jordan Riki The towering 20 year-old back-rower burst onto the scene in his five appearances for Brisbane, including a scintillating 40-metre solo try against Penrith. https://twitter.com/brisbanebroncos/status/1301701517083381760 Following the departure of David Fifita, Riki is a certainty to be in Kevin Walters' Round 1 side, and a big bolter for the starting side. He'll be one of Brisbane's best in 2021. Canberra Raiders Harley Smith-Shields The young centre made his debut against South Sydney off the bench midway through last season, before scoring his maiden try against Cronulla in his only start of the year. https://twitter.com/RaidersCanberra/status/1173898896340176896 Jarrod Croker will miss the first month of the season following a shoulder reconstruction and Nick Cotric has departed for Canterbury, leaving Smith-Shields to battle it out with fellow rookie Matt Timoko for the vacant spot. Harley should get the gig, and excel in it. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Jack Hetherington If Matt Burton was to secure an early release I'd reconsider, but Hetherington is the 2021 value buy of the year for me. [caption id="attachment_35489" align="alignnone" width="696"] PENRITH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 06: Jack Hetherington of the Panthers makes a break during the round 17 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the New Zealand Warriors at Panthers Stadium on July 6, 2018 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] While only playing ten games over the last two seasons, we saw glimpses of Hetherington's best during his loan stint with the Warriors, and he will deliver some much needed aggression and mongrel into this Bulldogs pack. The Dogs of War are back. Cronulla Sharks Jackson Ferris We saw a mere tease of what Ferris can do in his debut against Brisbane last year, scoring a try, breaking the line twice and running 114 metres in just 66 minutes before a PCL injury cruelled his night. https://twitter.com/CanterburyCup/status/1290826065410056192 Josh Dugan and Jesse Ramien are the touted centre pairing, but with the duo missing seven games between them in 2020, expect to see plenty more of Jackson Ferris next year. Gold Coast Titans Tanah Boyd The utility has notched 15 NRL games since his 2019 debut for the Titans, and is set to receive more minutes next year following the departure of Nathan Peats. While naturally a halfback, the surprising strength of the Ash Taylor-Jamal Fogarty halves combination means Boyd will spend his time at rake splitting the workload with Mitch Rein. https://twitter.com/GCTitans/status/1167569620795977728 Don't be surprised if Boyd is in the starting side come Round 25, especially with the strength of the Gold Coast's forward pack. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Jason Saab The former Dragons winger finally brought his contract saga to a close when he snared a release to Manly. [caption id="attachment_56545" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 04: Jason Saab of the Dragons walks off after losing the round 20 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Parramatta Eels at WIN Jubilee Stadium on August 04, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] While Jorge Taufua and Reuben Garrick are the starting wingers, the former has declined across the last two seasons and talks of Garrick being released before Round 1 have been floated. If Tom Trbojevic remains fit, expect Saab on the end of many Turbo cut-out passes. Melbourne Storm Reimis Smith The most experienced player on this list with 49 NRL matches, but I expect Smith to go to another level as he replaces Suliasi Vunivalu on Melbourne's right flank. [caption id="attachment_50229" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Reimis Smith of the Bulldogs breaks away to score a try during the round 24 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Canterbury Bulldogs at UOW Jubilee Oval on August 26, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)[/caption] He'll be outside Jahrome Hughes, Felise Kaufusi and Brenko Lee, and I can see Smith near the top of the try-scorers list come September next year. Newcastle Knights Dominic Young This young Englishman has dreadlocks that would make Jamal Idris proud, and a play style to match. A Huddersfield Giants junior, Young is just 19, yet weighs in at a whopping 106kg for a centre, and a towering 198cm to boot. https://twitter.com/England_RL/status/1291725782255951872 With Tautau Moga off to Redfern and question marks over Enari Tuala and Gehamat Shibasaki, Young coupled with Bradman Best could be the NRL's strongest centre pairing. New Zealand Warriors Paul Turner The Warriors finally seem to have it coming together across the board in terms of their roster, adding some strike and skill to their forward pack and some experienced NRL outside backs... But Paul Turner could be the key. A five-eighth, Turner debuted in 2020, featuring in just the singular match. And while Kodi Nikorima and Chanel Harris-Tavita will start the year in the halves, don't be shocked if Turner can leap frog his way in. https://twitter.com/SkyNZPresents/status/1298109018683015174 There have been whispers of Nikorima heading to the Super League, but don't be shocked if he's wearing the Warriors' 14 jersey come seasons end. North Queensland Cowboys Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow This guy has produced enough highlights across the Perth Nines and his debut season alone, but 2021 will be the year he becomes a consistent threat. Hamiso has spoken out about his desire to play in the centres for the Cowboys this year, and he could absolutely star there. [caption id="attachment_56021" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Cowboys scores a try during Day 2 of the 2020 NRL Nines at HBF Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)[/caption] He has the pace to beat his defender and create the overlap, and the passing game to put his winger in a great position. Sky is the limit for 'the Hammer'. Parramatta Eels Haze Dunster You don't see many talented enough to debut in a semi-final, but Dunster managed to prove himself then and there, despite the loss. https://twitter.com/TheParraEels/status/1315076337200029696 Waqa Blake had some serious defensive issues late in the year, Michael Jennings is fighting ASADA and Blake Ferguson has been told 2021 will be his final year at the Eels. Next year has Haze Dunster's name written all over it, and with a name like that, how couldn't it be? Penrith Panthers Charlie Staines This is a name I'm sure you're all familiar with. The kid that played less than two hours of NRL, and has six tries next to his name. [caption id="attachment_71163" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 01: Charlie Staines of the Panthers is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during the round 12 NRL match between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Penrith Panthers at Lottoland on August 01, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)[/caption] Teammate Zane Tetevano has played 122 NRL games and only managed three meat pies. They've pushed nine-year Panther Josh Mansour into the transfer market just so the 'Forbes Ferrari' has a spot in the back line. Big, big things in Staines' future, but 2021 will be the year he makes his mark. South Sydney Rabbitohs Keaon Koloamatangi It's rare you see a young forward be so dominant in his early days, but Koloamatangi became a force to be reckoned with on South Sydney's bench. [caption id="attachment_85092" align="alignnone" width="696"] TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 15: Keaon Koloamatangi of the Rabbitohs is tackled during the round 14 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at QCB Stadium on August 15, 2020 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)[/caption] Averaging 108 metres and nearly 18 tackles across 34 minutes, the sudden loss of Bailey Sironen to the Warriors opens up an edge spot, with Keaon coming through the grades in the back-row. Cameron Murray is likely to start on an edge with Jai Arrow at lock, but expect to see Murray move to lock, Arrow to prop and Koloamatangi starting by mid-season. St. George Illawarra Dragons Max Feagai There's a few solid youngsters coming through the grades in Wollongong, recent debutants Cody Ramsey, Eddie Blacker and Jayden Sullivan to boot. But the revelation that Jack Bird will play lock, means Cameron McInnes will play hooker, Ben Hunt is back at halfback, with the Feagai twins and Brayden Williame fighting it out to partner Zac Lomax in the centres. https://twitter.com/NRL_Dragons/status/1307227930569748481 Max played the final two games for the Red V, including a last round victory over Melbourne, and looked promising. Still quite raw at 19, but if given a chance by new coach Anthony Griffin, watch him run with it. Sydney Roosters Sam Walker Chances are you've already heard of this prestigious talent, and you're probably surprised I didn't pick Joseph Suaalii. He'll struggle to play regular first-grade with that backline, bookmark his break out for 2022. [caption id="attachment_45020" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sam Walker Queensland Origin[/caption] Following the release of Kyle Flanagan the Roosters are left with Walker, Lachlan Lam and Drew Hutchison as legitimate halves options. Expect Lam to start the season wearing the seven, but Walker, who turned 18 in June this year, is their long-term halfback and will excel in his first taste of NRL. Wests Tigers Stefano Utoikamanu The Tigers have shelled out big dollars for this Parramatta junior, but if the wraps on him ring true, he'll be worth it. Compared to Payne Haas' style of play, Utoikamanu was given small minutes of NRL in 2020, but will be given a much bigger role for the club next year. Utoikamanu, Alex Twal and Shawn Blore are viewed as the future of their forward pack and will all be given big roles in an overall lacklustre roster for the Tigers. https://twitter.com/WestsTigers/status/1222369377745391617 Expect to see his name on the bench for Michael Maguire's Tigers in Round 1.

		P	W	PTS	+/-
1	MEL	1	1	2	48
2	CRO	1	1	2	40
3	PEN	1	1	2	26
4	NZW	1	1	2	24
5	NEW	1	1	2	10
6	SOU	1	1	2	10
7	CAN	1	1	2	1
8	CBR	1	1	2	1

The player from every club that’s set to breakout in 2021

Which player at your club is set for a meteoric rise next season?

Penrith Panthers

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