You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Your say: Young talent at Panthers wins over fans

The young talent the Panthers have at their disposal has been voted the best collective in the NRL heading into the 2021 season.

The likes of Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o and Charlie Staines aren't the only rising stars on the books at Penrith, but they provide an indication into what appears a very bright future.

The Panthers finished with 22 per cent of the votes, with the Titans the only other team to finish with more than 10 per cent.

The addition of David Fifita and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui over the summer helped the Gold Coast in this department.

In some good news for Brisbane, they finished in a tie for third with Melbourne.

Which team has the best core of young talent?

Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again later.

Broncos

Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, Tom Dearden, Xavier Coates and Tesi Niu are the cornerstones of a bunch of Baby Broncos who can get the perennial finalists back to the top after the club collected its first wooden spoon last year.

Raiders

One of the more experienced rosters in the NRL, they have high hopes for young English forward Harry Rushton, who recently joined the club, to complement the likes of fellow young guns Corey Horsburgh, Hudson Young and Tom Starling.

Bulldogs

They have blooded a few of their own pups like Jake Averillo, Matt Doorey and Brandon Wakeham while also bringing in fresh talent like Corey Allan, Nick Cotric and Kyle Flanagan.

Averillo goes acrobatic

Sharks

They have replenished their title-winning squad of five years ago with a core of rising talent including the likes of Briton Nikora, Blayke Brailey, Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Toby Rudolph and Braden Hamlin-Uele.

Titans

With the likes of new additions David Fifita and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui joining AJ Brimson, Moeaki Fotuaika and Phil Sami, the Gold Coast are well placed to build for a bright future.

Sea Eagles

Ben Trbojevic, Josh Schuster and Tevita Funa are just three of the young Manly men expected to see a lot more first-grade action in 2021 while the club also signed highly rated Roosters winger Christian Tuipulotu and Dragons speedster Jason Saab.

Storm

The Big Three era of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater is over (except Smith still hasn't made an official announcement) but Craig Bellamy is well served by the likes of Harry Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nicho Hynes being on hand to help Cameron Munster lead the premiers into a new chapter.

Knights

Bradman Best showed he is a potential future representative player in his rookie season in 2020 while the likes of Tex Hoy, Daniel and Jacob Saifiti, and Starford To'a ensure Newcastle will be in good hands in the next few years.

The highlights of Bradman Best's breakout 2020 season

Warriors

The pipeline of Kiwi talent rarely fails to deliver and the Warriors will look to the likes of last year's find of the season, Eliesa Katoa, to again improve alongside the likes of halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita, and big boppers Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Jack Murchie.

Cowboys

North Queensland are going through a changing of the guard with their roster and the likes of Scott Drinkwater, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reece Robson and Tom Gilbert are being entrusted with taking the team back to the finals.

Eels

Five-eighth Dylan Brown is the cornerstone of the next generation of Eels but he will have plenty of help with the likes of Reed Mahoney and ex-Titans forward Keegan Hipgrave, who has only just turned 24, as the club looks to replenish its veteran roster.

Panthers

The value of nurturing junior talent was never more evident than last year when Penrith rode a 17-game winning streak into the grand final and the runners-up will look to go one better in 2021 and beyond by relying on the continued improvement of Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Brent Naden, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o and Charlie Staines.

All of Stephen Crichton's 2020 tries

Dragons

Young twins Max and Mat Feagai are highly rated at St George Illawarra and along with Cody Ramsey and Jayden Sullivan, they have the potential to complement the likes of established rising stars Zac Lomax, Matt Dufty and Jackson Ford.

Rabbitohs

It's hard to believe Campbell Graham is still just 21 and he will be a large part of South Sydney's future with young guns like Keaon Kolomatagi, Jaxson Paulo and Tevita Tatola. And let's not forget, Latrell Mitchell is only 23.

Roosters

While coach Trent Robinson has a large chunk of veterans in his squad, the club has rejuvenated itself recently with the likes of teen prodigies Joseph Suaalii and Sam Walker ready to slot in alongside the likes of Victor Radley and Sam Verrills on the comeback trail from knee operations.

Tigers

Michael Maguire has turned over a significant portion of the club's roster in the last couple of years, paving the way for young forwards Stefano Utoikamanu, Shawn Blore, Luke Garner and Jacob Liddle to form a new era with Tommy Talau, Adam Doueihi and Asu Kepaoa out wide.

Acknowledgement of Country

Wests Tigers respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

Major Partner

Corporate Partners

View All Partners