There are few more official ways to declare someone 'the next big thing' than for the league to rate them the best junior player of the year - and between 2008 and 2017, that's what the NRL did annually.

The Dally M Under-20s Player of the Year award is not to be confused with the Rookie of the Year gong. While the rookie of the year goes to the youngster who has best adapted to the demands of the NRL, the under-20s award went to the most talented (but untested) youngsters still in the development pool.

It's a great way to hype someone up, but it also heaps expectation upon a young man's shoulders - and each winner has dealt with it in different ways. Though most are still playing and some are gone from the game not one of the most talented juniors in the land has become a premiership winner - though some have come closer than others.

5. David Klemmer (2012 - Canterbury Bulldogs)

Klemmer spent two years in the under-20s system at Canterbury, having already represented the Australian Schoolboys and NSW under-18s. The Bulldogs claimed the NYC minor premiership in 2012 on points differential from the Warriors, but they were unceremoniously dumped from the finals in straight sets by Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra Dragons.

Klemmer rose to the NRL months later but played just four matches in his debut season. A year later he was already participating in an NRL Grand Final โ€“ easily the most rapid rise for any of the candidates on this list.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 10: David Klemmer of the Bulldogs takes on the defence during the round two NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Pepper Stadium on March 10, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Unfortunately for Klemmer, the Bulldogs lost to South Sydney, and the next time the teams met on Good Friday, his reputation took a hit after a fiery ending. But since then, Newcastleโ€™s man-mountain has done well to overcome the early images of an angry young man, doing his state and country proud at the highest levels of the game and has made 191 NRL apperances.

Heโ€™s been back in the news again recently after spraying a trainer during another meek Newcastle effort. The only difference was, this time most people were on his side.

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