The NRL Preview Notepad helps you get ready for Round 26 with talking points, players to watch and trends to follow every week.
It’s the time of year when poorly thought-out solutions to problems that don’t really exist start doing the rounds. No, we don’t need to start all eight games at the same time because a different league in a different sport with a totally different structure to their season does it.
Let’s just approach Round 27 for what it is: The last round of a long, long regular season where most games don’t mean a whole lot. A weekend before the fun really begins.
Some clubs rely on others to perform this week if they’re to make the Top 8 given the state of the ladder. Others will be disappointed in seeing say, the Penrith Panthers, name a full-strength side with the opportunity for rest there in front of them. Still, there isn’t a coach out there who will blame the result of a different game to theirs in Round 27 for what could soon be considered a failed season if they don’t play beyond this weekend.
Sure, finals-bound clubs resting players takes away from a couple of games this weekend, but it also gives us an opportunity to catch a glimpse of those who have worked tirelessly all season to put themselves in a position for a late-season debut.
It takes a lot for a player to navigate 26 rounds and still be seen as consistent and reliable enough to be trusted with a first-grade appearance. You see NRL players fall away towards the end of a season. Now think about that second-tier guy who, by now, must be thinking the opportunity won’t come this year.
We’re seeing guys live out their dreams in Round 27.
Having watched a lot of Queensland and New South Wales Cup, I’ve seen all of these guys pop up throughout the year. So, here’s a quick introduction to the players making their NRL debut this weekend.
Josh Rogers: The 27-year-old debutant
He’s the top points-scorer in the Queensland Cup and the new poster boy for those passionate about the state-based competitions developing players beyond the age of 23 and putting them in positions to feature in the NRL, if only for a game or two.
Spending five years at the Burleigh Bears before landing with the Wynumm-Manly Seagulls in 2023, Josh Rodgers has been on fire this season. He’s in the prime years of his career and the numbers say as much. With 13 tries and 19 try assists last season, he’s backed that up again with 11 tries and 20 try assists in 2023.
With 86 games worth of experience in the Queensland Cup, he’s a smart half that can see the numbers in a line and play to them on both sides.
He’s a passing threat long and short. At 186cm and 90kg, he’s a relatively big body that can take the line on a break through, too.
As far as debutants go this week, Rogers looks well-placed to handle everything that comes at him with and without the ball.
Blake Mozer: The hyped one
It feels as though the Brisbane Broncos always have a young hooker that is going to be the guy when they get to grade. Blake Mozer is the one likely to live up to the hype and potential, though.
At 19 years old and towards the end of his first full season at Queensland Cup level with the Burleigh Bears, Mozer gets his crack in the top side.
Should he kick on like many expect, it won’t be long before he’s the best genuine hooker at the club. Billy Walters has impressed this season and Cory Paix has had his moments. Neither have the guile you see in top-tier hookers, though.
He’s been a hooker all the way through and copped the lazy ‘next Cameron Smith’ treatment from the usuals. But Mozer does have the smarts to warrant some of the Smith gear.
This try looks so simple but it shows how quickly Mozer is able to ID players and opportunities.
Pushing up after a half-break, Mozer spots the fullback sending his prop to the long side leaving only three Seagulls players on the short side. He quickly scans the short side, spots the advantage, feigns right before stepping left and crashes over to score one of his seven tries this season. Beautiful.
Named on the bench for this one, I hope to see him play at least 30 minutes as opportunities to run pop up through the middle either side of halftime.
Sualauvi Faalogo: Highlight reel hype
You’ve surely seen some of the highlights hyping him up already. I’ve been guilty of it, but how can you not send this around to the group chat?
A week after he did that, he returned one to the house on a kick return.
What Faalogo lacks in size he makes up for in speed and footwork. Some players in the NRL might be able to rag-doll him, but they have to catch him first.
As with any young player in the backline, expect the Broncos to test him defensively. It’s an area I don’t have much of a read on at the moment but he’s not been noticeably lacking there in the games I’ve seen. Where he plays will be interesting, too. Named in the 14 jersey, he might simply be thrown on in the Ryan Papenhuyzen role and asked to do something. There’s a good chance that something ends in points.
Jack Howarth: A Supercoach staple
It’s rather fitting that Jack Howarth makes his NRL debut when Supercoach has wrapped up for the year. He’s been a staple in fantasy footy for years with his potential both as a player and for a debut mentioned before at least the last two Melbourne Storm seasons.
On paper, he’s the quintessential rugby league – unfairly – overhyped youngster. He’s got the schoolboy highlights reel package and signed the big-money deal before an NRL debut. Had he signed with any other club he would probably have played before now. However, as they so often do, Melbourne has been patient with his development. That’s why he’s probably likely to live up to the hype in the end.
He’s spent time at centre throughout this 38-game Cup career but has featured in the backrow for all 17 games this year. His numbers stack up nicely: 3 tries, 3 try assists, 5 linebreaks and 112 running metres per game.
The most noticeable change over the last two years is in his size; he looks a lot bigger. His potential with the ball has been clear from the start but my guess is that, along with a couple of injuries, his path to first grade has been held up by some of the more technical elements of defence. His improved size and strength will have helped.
Howarth has looked good in the Queensland Cup games I’ve seen from him. I don’t think he will look out of place at NRL in Round 27 but don’t expect another highlight reel hype video just yet.
Josh Feledy: Straight in there
We’re well and truly into the ‘playing for next season’ portion of the Wests Tigers season and with just two New South Wales Cup games under his belt, Josh Feledy is being thrown into the NRL.
The 18-year-old made his Cup debut against the Warriors a couple of weeks ago and scored a decent try off a scrum.
He’s not been given many opportunities with the ball, though. His Western Suburbs Magpies were thrashed last week and he only registered six touches in 80 minutes. Defensively, he misses a lot of tackles.
Given what we’ve seen out of the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles – Daly Cherry-Evans down the right side, in particular – the young centre might be in for a long night on Friday.
Kit Laulilii has also been named to make his debut off the bench. Outside of him being a big unit, I’ve not seen enough of him so I’m particularly keen on seeing how he goes in this one.
How Cherry-Evans stressed the Bulldogs defence
“While the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs defence is dire, you can still appreciate the process of how a team rips through it. Cherry-Evans and the Sea Eagles did just that in Round 26 as they exposed a weakness and played to it for three of their seven tries.”
Hohepa Puru: A future guy
The NRL Boom Rookies Podcast makes sure to recognise the players of the past who weren’t stars but live forever in the memory bank as a ‘guy’.
Perhaps it’s selling him a bit short, but Hohepa Puru has guy potential.
He’s not flashy, but boy does he work hard.
The 21-year-old middle forward averages 40 tackles and 133 running metres per game, usually across 80 minutes. In a grade that has seen all but one team use 40+ players this season and four who have sent out 50+, having a consistent and reliable presence in the middle is crucial. Puru has provided the Canberra Raiders with that all year and with the first grade season on the line, is being thrust into the top side.
While he is skilful for a middle forward and capable of throwing a pass to compress the defence, he won’t asked to do much more than make his tackles and cart the ball up on Sunday. I have no doubt he will do the job Ricky Stuart asks of him and spend a lot more time in the NRL next year.
For more on Puru, Dan at The Sportress has you covered: Risking it on Hope-hepa