Each and every year, a stand out few NRL players rise from the pack. They finally find that coach who inspires them, or that diet that enables peak performance, or that special something that sees them realize their potential.

In 2018, Valentine Holmes became a genuine superstar. The potential and talent had always been there, but the positional play and ball playing skill seemed to blossom, making Holmes one of the game's elite.

Damien Cook went from fringe first grader to the number one number nine in the game. All he needed was a coach that believed in him and let him play his natural game.

Latrell Mitchell pushed the who's who of centres aside in ascending to the position's top player. His fellow Rooster in Luke Keary ended the season as arguably the competition's form player.

We all know about the rise of Kalyn Ponga.

2017 saw Coen Hess graduate from decent forward to absolute wrecking ball. He now has a closet full of Origin jumpers and plenty more in the future. Tommy Turbo burst onto the scene in a big, big way.

So who will it be in 2019?

It's suuuuper early, and plenty can happen between now and the start of the season next year, but as it stands here are the top five players I expect to become genuine superstars in 2019.

For the point of this, I don't mean break out stars, or rookies to make names for themselves. I'm referring to first graders who will elevate into genuine superstar status.

2. Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Knights):

The newly re-signed Newcastle back rower had a brilliant 2018 season. He really came of age after showing signs in 2017 and with his future sorted and another pre-season under his belt, he will push for Origin contention in 2019.

At 24 he has represented his club 41 times for 18 tries. That's an incredible strike rate considering the form of the Knights since his top grade debut in 2015.

With a fully fit Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga in the halves next year, I expect Ponga/Pearce and Fitzgibbon to form a Thurston/Cooper like combination.

That might seem like off-season hyperbole but I see huge things in Fitz's future. The wide-running back rower will again be a threat both in attack and defence as he pushes for an Origin call up in 2019.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 27: Lachlan Fitzgibbon of the Knights celebrates after scoring a try during the round 20 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Newcastle Knights at 1300SMILES Stadium on July 27, 2018 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

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