Every NRL club has a player that they rely on to deliver the results.
Whether it’s leading from the front, demonstrating brilliance or providing consistency every team needs a key player.
These are the players that will need to perform for each club, starting with the Brisbane Broncos through to the Newcastle Knights.
With the loss of Ben Hunt to the Dragons, the Broncos will look to Anthony Milford to command the team on the field. The Broncos five-eighth possesses the speed and skill to strike at any time from anywhere and turn a game on its head.
Kodi Nikorima will likely partner with Milford in the halves and despite his international experience, he still needs to develop significantly before he is a game winner like Milford. Therefore a lot of the responsibility will fall on Milford’s shoulders and the Broncos will need him to be up to the task if they are to succeed.
The Raiders play their best football when their dynamic hooker Josh Hodgson is firing. During the excellent 2016 run the Raiders enjoyed, Hodgson was nearly unstoppable and nearly beat Cameron Smith for the Dally M hooker award.
Hodgson’s ability to give Canberra direction and to provide an x-factor on the field is vital. If the Raiders wish to return to the finals in 2018, they will need Hodgson to play at his best and lead the team.
Unfortunately, Hodgson is set to miss the first half of the season as he recovers from an ACL injury suffered during the World Cup. Watch them become a different team when he does return to the field.
2017 was a disappointing year for the Bulldogs and the club will be hoping that Kieran Foran is the answer to their problems. On his day Foran is destructive with the ball in hand and can single-handedly win matches, something the Bulldogs lacked last season.
The Foran deal can be considered a gamble, however, as the five-eighth has spent significant time on the sidelines in recent years. If Foran remains fit the Bulldogs will have gained an incredible player, but if not 2018 could be another poor year.
Andrew Fifita is a strong ball runner and can punch holes in opposition defence. His size and speed make him an intimidating prop that can lead his team, which will be important due to the loss of James Maloney.
Maloney’s departure could put pressure on the new Sharks playmakers to perform. Therefore it is important for the forwards, such as Fifita, to lay a strong platform for the halves.
Much of the Titans 2018 hopes rest on the shoulders of their halfback, Ashley Taylor. Though Taylor is young he has already shown impressive skills as a playmaker and will continue to improve.
Some new signings such as Michael Gordon should give Taylor more to work with this season but he still has a mountain to climb to make 2018 a success.
Manly’s dynamic fullback Tom Trbojevic has been a major factor in returning the side to the finals after they missed out in 2016. The shift to fullback has seen Trbojevic become the most dangerous player in the Sea Eagles team.
Trbojevic boasts excellent speed, skill and agility meaning he can punish opposition teams from anywhere and can strike without warning. A good season for the Manly fullback will mean it has been a good year for the Sea Eagles.
In a team that features Cameron Smith, Cameron Munster and Jesse Bromwich it can be tough to tell which player will be the most important. In the case of the 2018 season, Billy Slater will be the difference for the Storm.
Slater has developed his game to new levels since returning from injury. A whopping 16 try assists show that the champion fullback is a deadly playmaker as well as a huge try-scoring threat.
Knights fan wishes came true when Mitchell Pearce decided to leave the Roosters for the Knights after they signed Cooper Cronk. In one of the greatest recruitment drives of all time, Nathan Brown has added a huge number of talented players to his team and Pearce is the best of the lot.
Despite criticism of his representative career, Pearce has proven to be one of the best club level halves over the last five years. His incredible ball playing skills have guided the Roosters deep into the finals many times, and he will have to up his game to do the same at the Knights.