After another bumper off-season of player movement, take a look below at who we think will have the biggest impact at their new club in 2019.
3. Shaun Johnson
Having been advised by his boyhood club the Warriors that he wasn’t going to be offered an extension on his current deal, Shaun Johnson sought for an immediate release and was provided a life-line by the embattled Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
Although he has undoubted talent, the Sharks will be hoping for more than just the occasional flash of brilliance from the Kiwis halfback. However, this inconsistency and erratic style could be put to the sword thanks to the man he'll be playing alongside, Chad Townsend.
Townsend isn't the most flamboyant player you'll ever come across, but he could prove to be the perfect foil for Johnson. It's no secret Johnson wasn't your standard game-managing halfback at the Warriors, but luckily for the Sharks, he won't need to do that. Thanks to Townsend's tendencies to direct his team around the park and be the dominant half, this will allow Johnson to pick and choose when to slot into the Sharks' attack, saving his bursts of speed and attacking prowess for the required situations. Rather than being relied upon as the primary attacking spark, as he was at the Warriors for so many years.
Whilst he may cop his fair share of flak for not being as dominant as he should be as a half, Johnson still had a more than solid 2018 season. Providing 15 try-assists and 12 line-break assists from his 19 games in 2018.
Having arrived seemingly as a replacement for the NFL bound Valentine Holmes, Johnson will have his work cut out for him in God's country. However, a combination lighter play-making and game managing duties thanks to the contributions of Chad Townsend and Matt Moylan should allow Johnson to flourish and show NRL fans all the tricks he's got up his sleeve in the new season.
Klemmer is a cat… he will make meters I give him that, but rarely wins a battle when it is taken to him
Fergo will smash up kick returns, quick ball plays to start sets in the best possible ways.
The rest of the team decides if he can finish sets with tries in the corner.
All five are great players. Good pickups.
I dont agree these are the 5 best recruits. These are the 5 best players changing clubs but outside of Ferguson i dont think these players are what their club needed.
E.g. cowboys already had a strong forward pack, did they really need McGuire??.
I think the top 5 recruits are Ferguson for reasons already mentioned.
Matterson, tigers havent had a quality 2nd rower since for years. He can really transforn that right edge, not only does he run great lines but also can create for the players around him.
Boyd, Gold Coast have been crying out for a quality big man. Hes early hit ups will take pressure of the likes of Wallace, James and Arrow by attracting more defenders so the others will be facing one and two man tackles rather than 3 and 4 man tackles the following play. This should lead to quicker play the balls which may well be the key to unlocking Ash Taylors talent.
Paulo, similar story to Boyd above. Whilst the likes of Alvaro, Mau and Brown arent big and strong enough to impact a defensive line themself, they could really benefit from following a player who can.
Norman, (possibly) hasnt had a decent pack to play behind before but will now that he is at St George. Gives St George the ball playing fullback (Widdop) theyve been wanting for sometime. But, questions about disrupting the team and keeping his ego in check (not being the dominant half he wants to be) need to be answered yet.
Now i dont expect these 5 to suddenly outperform the 5 in the article. For example Chrighton is in for a bigger year than Matterson, not only is he a better player but also in a stronger team but as i said these are not the best 5 players but the 5 who could be the most impactful at their new club.