Rugby league – The Evening Game

Every team needs its grafters, its share of cool heads and steady veterans. Not the All-Entertaining team though, which needs nothing but the game’s most electrifying, compulsively watchable talent. Here are our picks for the players with a licence to thrill in 2017.

1. James Tedesco (Tigers): A speed machine with great footwork, an instinct for support play and high level ball-playing skills, Tedesco always seems just one play away from another highlight reel moment.

2. Bevan French (Eels): Sheer blinding pace is the Tingha product’s most eye-catching attribute and he already boasts an average of greater than a try per game.

3. Jarryd Hayne (Titans): Sure, he’s picked out of his usual position in this team, but Hayne has the outrageous ability to be a hit anywhere in the backline. With size, speed, phenomenal acceleration and a love of the big stage, he is unlikely to be out of headlines or highlights packages for long this year.

4. Jordan Rapana (Raiders): Emerging from relative obscurity last year, Rapana led the competition in tries (23) and line breaks (26) and was second in tackle breaks (138), confirming his arrival as a multi-dimensional attacking weapon.

5. Tom Trbojevic (Sea-Eagles): Moved to fullback this year and now finally injury free, expect even more of Trbojevic’s eye-catching open field running and elusive ability.

6. Anthony Milford (Broncos): His dancing feet and knack of wriggling free of tackles and exploding into the back field have already made him one of the game’s most lucrative assets. His best, however, is surely yet to come.

7. Shaun Johnson (Warriors): Jonathan Thurston may be the best halfback week in and week out, but Johnson has a crazy high ceiling and the most wicked step in the game.

8. Andrew Fifita (Sharks): A controversial figure, but also a cracking player capable of steamrolling his way through even the most impenetrable of goal-line defences. Just ask the Melbourne Storm.

9. Jake Granville (Cowboys): Explosive out of dummy-half and always asking questions of the defence, Granville injects huge amounts of energy and unpredictability into an already potent Cowboys attack.

10. Ryan James (Titans): The Titans front-rower crossed for 12 tries last year, the most in the game’s history for a prop. Many of these four-pointers showcased not only his strength but a surprising level of skill for such a huge man.

11. Bryce Cartwright (Panthers): Blessed with exquisite passing and off-loading skills and an instinctive, off-the-cuff approach, Cartwright is the epitome of Penrith’s youthful, freewheeling style that always makes for essential viewing.

12. David Klemmer (Bulldogs): While opponents often seem riled up by his aggressive approach and penchant for bone-rattling tackles, fans love the fire in his game and his apparent disdain for self-preservation.

13. Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys): His rampaging runs and ability to hit the ball like a runaway train are a joy to behold. He easily led the NRL in metres gained last year, many of which were accumulated with hapless defenders hanging off him.

Reserves:

Valentine Holmes (Sharks): Beautiful running style, balance and acceleration. A pure athlete and classy finisher who is likely to be more prominent this season.

Sam Kasiano (Bulldogs): A giant human with a knack for dainty passes, Kasiano has trimmed down this year but remains an intriguing player.

Sam Burgess (Rabbitohs): Even in a lean year by his standards, Burgess regularly bent the line back in 2016 and left attackers reeling from the impact of his granite-like shoulders.

Dylan Napa (Roosters): Expected to bring his brutish style to the Queensland team this year, the hard-hitting Napa has all the makings of a classic Origin villain.

Brisbane Broncos
Lachlan Barr, Adam Blair, Darius Boyd, Gerome Burns, Mitch Cronin, Matt Gillett, Jordan Kahu, Sam Lavea, Matiu Love-Henry, Benji Marshall, Andrew McCullough, Anthony Milford, Francis Molo, Corey Oates, Jonus Pearson, James Roberts, Gehamat Shibasaki, Jaydn Su’A

Canberra Raiders
Jeff Lima (c), Zac Santo, Eddie Aiono, Thomas Cronan, Brent Naden, Nick Cotric, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Dunamis Lui, Adam Clydsdale, Luke Bateman, Scott Sorensen, Jordan Turner, Paul Roache, Mark McCormack, Anthony Moraitis, Makahesi Makatoa, Topi Tafua

Canterbury Bulldogs
Brad Abbey, Tom Carr, Matt Frawley, Danny Fualalo, Craig Garvey, Kerrod Holland, Sam Kasiano, David Klemmer, Lachlan Lewis, Michael Lichaa, Rhyse Martin, D’Rhys Miller, Marcelo Montoya, Tyrone Phillips, Josh Reynolds (c), Reimis Smith, Renouf To’omaga, Francis Tualau

Cronulla Sharks
Wade Graham (c), Luke Lewis, Matt Prior, Chris Heighington, Gerard Beale, Kurt Capewell, Joseph Paulo, Jack Bird, Ricky Leutele, Manaia Cherrington, Jesse Ramien, Will Kennedy, Jayden Walker, Kyle Flanagan, Sione Katoa, Billy Magoulias, Malakai Houma, Kurt Kara

Gold Coast Titans
Morgan Boyle, Alexander Brimson, Tyler Cornish, Anthony Don, Kane Elgey, Jarryd Hayne, Ryan James, Max King, Chris McQueen, John Olive, Nathaniel Peteru, Pat Politoni, Leivaha Pulu, Tyrone Roberts, Tyronne Roberts-Davis, Hayden Schwass, Paterika Vaivai, Daniel Vidot, William Zillman

Manly Sea Eagles
Brenton Lawrence (c), Jono Wright, Dylan Walker, Brian Kelly, Akuila Uate, Jorge Taufua, Pita Godinet, Cameron Cullen, Peter Schuster, Tom Wright, Joey Lussick, Shaun Lane, Frank Winterstein, Jarrad Kennedy, Curtis Sironen, Addin Fonua Blake, Martin Taupau, Lloyd Perrett

Melbourne Storm

Kenny Bromwich (c), Young Tonumaipea (c), Josh Addo-Carr, Curtis Scott, Cheyse Blair, Linc Port, Cameron Munster, Brodie Croft, Mark Nicholls, Slade Griffin, Tim Glasby, Joe Stimson, Felise Kaufusi, Scott Drinkwater, Ryley Jacks, Jake Turpin, Dean Britt, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Charlie Galo (Emergency Player)

Newcastle Knights
Peter Mata’utia, Ken Sio, Brendan Elliot, Nathan Ross, Cory Denniss, Brock Lamb, Jaelen Feeney, Daniel Saifiti, Danny Levi, Jacob Saifiti, Mitch Barnett, Jamie Buhrer (c), Luke Yates, Tyler Randell, Jack Stockwell, Sam Stone, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Nick Meaney, Sione Mata’utia (Emergency Player)

New Zealand Warriors
Ryan Hoffman, Junior Pauga, Matt Allwood, Blake Ayshford, Ata Hingano, Solomone Kata, Shaun Johnson, Ruben Wiki (c), Mason Lino,Bunty Afoa, James Gavet, Tuimoala Lolohea, Jazz Tevaga, Ofahiki Ogden, Lewis Soosemea, Toafofoa Sipley, Isaiah Papalii, James Bell

North Queensland Cowboys

John Asiata, Javid Bowen, Gavin Cooper (c), Kyle Feldt, Gideon Gela-Mosby, Jake Granville, Ben Hampton, Coen Hess, Shaun Hudson, Corey Jensen, Kane Linnett, Ethan Lowe, Michael Morgan, Justin O’Neill, Kalyn Ponga, Jason Taumalolo, Johnathan Thurston, Shane Wright

Parramatta Eels
Nathan Brown, Kenny Edwards, Jamal Fogarty, Bevan French, David Gower, Clint Gutherson, Josh Hoffman, George Jennings, Cameron King, Suaia Matagi, Tepai Moeroa, Corey Norman (c), Marata Niukore, Scott Schulte, Rory O’Brien, Semi Radradra, Honeti Tuha, Joseph Ualesi, Troy Dargan

Penrith Panthers
Dylan Edwards, Corey Waddell,Waqa Blake, Jed Cartwright, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Nathan Cleary, Kaide Ellis, Sione Katoa, Darren Nicholls, Tyrone May, Moses Leota, Sitaleki Akauola, James Tamou, Christian Crichton, Corey Harawira-Naera, Isaah Yeo (c), Zach Dockar-Clay, Oliver Clark

South Sydney Rabbitohs
Angus Crichton, Damien Cook, Bryson Goodwin, Aaron Gray, Zane Musgrove, Siosifa Talakai, Tyrell Fuimaono, Braidon Burns, Kyle Turner, Alex Johnston, Anthony Cherrington, Cody Walker, Hymel Hunt, Robert Jennings, Thomas Burgess, Robbie Rochow, Cam Murray, Dave Tyrrell

St George Illawarra Dragons
Patrick Herbert, Nene Macdonald, Euan Aitken, Levi Dodd, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Kurt Mann, Siliva Havili, Cameron McInnes, Luciano Leilua, Tyson Frizell (c), Joel Thompson, Jack de Belin, Tariq Sims, Taane Milne, Shaun Nona, Will Matthews, Matt Dufty, Jai Field

Sydney Roosters

Connor Watson, Daniel Tupou, Dale Copley, Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu, Paul Momirovski, Mitchell Cornish, Isaac Liu, Paul Carter, Kane Evans, Ryan Matterson, Mitchell Aubusson (c), Aidan Guerra, Chris Smith, Zane Tetevano, Brendan Frei, Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, Bernard Lewis.

Wests Tigers
Josh Aloiai, Luke Brooks, Michael Chee Kam, Joel Edwards, Matt Eisenhuth, JJ Felise, Watson Heleta, Justin Hunt, Jack Littlejohn, Kyle Lovett, Esan Marsters, Matt McIlwrick, Kevin Naiqama, Jordan Rankin, Ava Seumanufagai, Bayley Sironen, Sauaso Sue, Elijah Taylor

Tag: Rugby league

The NRL’s Most Entertaining Players