The Broncos are set to unleash a prodigious talent at hooker, while the Panthers have earmaked the man to fill Api Koroisau’s shoes and the Bulldogs are tipped to debut a gun at centre.
We looked at the players soley with 10 games of NRL experience or less to come up with our list of 17 stars of the future from each club that are set to take the NRL by storm in 2023.
Read on for the NRL’s 2023 predicted breakout stars.
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PANTHERS – Soni Luke
With gun hooker Apisai Koroisau departing, the Panthers have a gaping hole in the middle of the park. His speed and creativity out of dummy-half will be sorely missed and the Tigers recruit was integral to the Panthers premiership defence. Penrith signed Soni Luke on a two-year deal in March after impressing in pre-season while on a train-and-trial. The 26-year-old will share dummy-half duties with Mitch Kenny in 2023, after playing a starring role in the Panthers’ NSW Cup premiership. Luke made his debut for the Panthers in Round 7 and played four NRL games in 2022 — and is set for a breakout campaign in 2023 with consistent first grade football.
COWBOYS – Tomas Chester
Tomas Chester made his NRL debut in Round 18, coming off the bench for a 12 minute cameo against the Sharks. While Scott Drinkwater has a mortgage on the fullback spot, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s departure opens a spot on the bench for a utility player. The 21-year-old is naturally a halfback and transitioned to fullback last season. Chester reportedly impressed coach Todd Payten during the 2022 pre-season and will look to do the same and secure a spot in the Cowboys starting 17 next year. In 13 appearances for the Townsville Blackhawks Chester scored six tries to go with a whopping 50 tackle breaks.
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SHARKS – Kade Dykes
The son of former Sharks and Eels playmaker Adam Dykes burst onto the NRL scene with his debut for Cronulla against the Dragons in Round 21 of the 2022 season. Dykes scored a try in two games for the club in his rookie season and showed plenty of promise as a fullback after covering for the injured William Kennedy. Dykes will vie with Kennedy and Lachlan Miller for fullback duties in 2023, but with a full pre-season under his belt he could challenge for starting honours at some point next season. Dykes was rewarded for breaking into first grade last season with a two-year contract extension showing the faith the club has in him to blossom into a regular first grader.
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EELS – J’maine Hopgood
Parramatta’s signing of Panthers young gun J’maine Hopgood could prove a masterstroke. Hopgood made his NRL debut against the Titans in Round 10 of the 2021 season and has played only nine first grade games to date. Naturally a lock, the 23-year-old has had limited first grade minutes sitting behind one of the competition’s best in Isaah Yeo. However, in that time Hopgood has clearly impressed and coach Ivan Cleary admitted the club would miss the “winner and competition”. With Marata Niukore leaving and Nathan Brown’s future up in the air, Hopgood could make the Eels’ No.13 jersey his own with coach Brad Arthur opting in 2022 to use Ryan Matterson off the bench. Hopgood was named NSW Cup Player of the Year as Penrith took out the reserve grade competition.
STORM – Jonah Pezet
The talented 19-year-old halfback is tipped to debut for the Storm in 2023 after he was promoted to the club’s top 30 and Cooper Johns was released. Johns was the fill-in for Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster when they were either injured or on representative duty over the last couple of seasons, so it would appear Pezet will now fill that role next season. Pezet showed his exciting potential for NSW Under 19s in their State of Origin clash in 2022 when he produced five try assists to be named man-of-the-match. Pezet has some silky ball skills and an excellent kicking game and looks to be a potential NRL star of the future, despite not yet cracking first grade. That should change in 2023 when inevitable injuries strike over a long season and Pezet looks ready to take his opportunity when it comes.
ROOSTERS – Terrell May
The hulking front-rower played nine games for the Roosters in his debut season in 2022 and impressed coach trent Robinson with his work ethic. The Western Sydney native was a standout for the North Sydney bears NSW Cup before graduating to the Roosters ranks last season. May is signed until the end of 2023 and will be motivated to earn a contract extension next season. The 23-year-old prop had some big games off the bench for the Roosters in 2022 and will only improve with another gruelling off-season under Robinson’s guidance. The Roosters have a spate of players coming off-contract in 2022 and 2023, so May has the chance to cement his place in Robinson’s forward rotation.
RABBITOHS – Terrell Kalo Kalo
The exciting 19-year-old fullback has big wraps on him at the Rabbitohs, despite having an uphill battle to crack first grade in his preferred position with Latrell Mitchell ahead of him. However, Mitchell’s recent record with injury and suspension could open the door for Kalo Kalo to break into first grade in 2023, while he could also be used on the wing or in the centres. Terrell rose through the junior representative ranks at the Rabbitohs to feature at SG Ball level and is predicted to play in the NRL and representative football in the future. Kalo Kalo is a graduate of the Scots College, the same school Souths skipper Cameron Murray attended. Kalo Kalo has the right mixture of speed, silky footwork and ball skills to dominate at NRL level and given his versatility in covering every position in the back five, a debut in 2023 seems a formality and he has the skills to shine once he gets there.
RAIDERS – Ata Mariota
Raiders big man Ata Mariota played 18 minutes in his NRL debut, coming on as the replacement player in Round 21 against the Panthers. Mariota had even played NSW Cup earlier that day. While the 20-year-old has only got a glimpse of first grade, coach Ricky Stuart had seen enough to upgrade his development deal with a two-year extension to the end of 2024. With the departure of Ryan Sutton and Adam Elliott two spots in Canberra’s middle have opened and Mariota could be in line to slot into Stuart’s starting 17. Mariota was also named at prop in the NSW Cup Team of the Year after scoring five tries in 18 appearances.
BRONCOS – Blake Mozer
The Broncos have earmarked young gun Blake Mozer as their long-term hooker and it is only a matter of time before he matures into a regular starting No.9 at NRL level. The 18-year-old Keebra Park State High School graduate has been a part of the Broncos Academy since the age of 13 and has represented Queensland and Australia at junior level. In May Mozer inked a two-year extension to remain at Red Hill until at least the end of the 2025 season, despite not yet having played first grade. With Jake Turpin moving on and Billy Walters and Cory Paix failing to cement the No.9 jersey last season, Mozer could catapult himself into the Broncos’ 17 with a big off-season at Red Hill. Mozer is a crafty dummyhalf with footwork and slick service and his work ethic should ensure he makes the step up to first grade at some point next season and he has the game to prosper when he does. Adam Reynolds looked like he was overburdened with the playmaking duties as the 2023 season wore on and Mozer could be the man to share some of the load in the creativity and organisation departments, so that the Broncos have more threats in their spine to create uncertainty in the opposition defensive line. If all the focus is on Reynolds it makes the Broncos predictable and Mozer could be the perfect foil for his halfback and captain at the scrumbase.
DRAGONS – Max Feagai
The twin brother of Dragons outside back Mat Feagai is tipped to make a big impact for the club in first grade as he gets more opportunties. Max has 13 tries in 28 games, but his brother has scored two tries in just six games since his debut in 2021. Like his brother, the 21-year-old is signed until the end of the 2024 season and has a real opportunity to cement a first grade spot with a big pre-season ahead of 2023. Feagai has the right mix of speed, footwork and physicality in defence to make an excellent winger or centre and he will only get better the more he grows into his frame and gets more opportunities in the top grade. The New Zealand native is highly regarded at the Dragons and the time has come for him to make the step up and realise his potential in the NRL.
SEA EAGLES – Kaeo Weekes
Manly young gun got a taste of first grade football last season, playing three games under Des Hasler for a total of 105 minutes. Against the Bulldogs in Round 25, Weekes played a full game at fullback and delivered, recording 206 running metres, five tackle breaks and a line break assist. The 20-year-old can also play at five-eighth and will likely fight it out with Karl Lawton for the No.14 jersey after there were rumblings Weekes would play at dummy-half in his NRL debut. Weekes begun his journey with the Sea Eagles as a 14-year-old and has been working closely with superstar Tom Trbojevic. The young gun is only a chance of wearing the No.1 jersey at the Sea Eagles if Trbojevic is injured and will compete with Reuben Garrick in his absence.
BULLDOGS – Paul Alamoti
The talented 18-year-old announced himself as a potential NRL star with a barnstorming display for NSW in the under 18’s State of Origin clash against Queensland in 2022. The centre signed a two-year deal to be part of the Bulldogs’ top 30 as a 17-year-old in 2021 and is tipped to debut for the club in 2023. The exciting young outside back is regarded as one of the best centres in the game for his age and will only improve the more he grows into his frame and gets experience at NRL level. Alamoti is a Bulldogs local junior having come through the Milperra Colts, before starring for the Bulldogs’ Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams. He was also selected for the 2019 Australian Schoolboys merit team and Harold Matthews Representative side.
TITANS – Jojo Fifita
The Titans winger scored three tries in eight games for the Titans in his rookie season in 2022. The second cousin of Titans’ big money star David Fifita showed his enormous promise on the wing for the Gold Coast in 2023 and with Jamayne Isaako moving to the Dolphins and Corey Thompson retiring, a wing spot is his for the taking next season. Fifita has the perfect mixture of blinding speed and footwork that will make him a handful for even the best NRL defences. The 19-year-old will only get better as he matures and grows into his already impressive frame and gains more experience, while the signing of Kieran Foran should create more opportunities for Fifita and the other Titans outside backs out wide.
KNIGHTS – Krystian Mapapalangi
Knights fans are excited about this one. Krystian Mapapalangi was impressive in two 80 minute performances at centre for Newcastle late in the season. The 19-year-old faces stiff competition to slot into the centres, with Dane Gagai and Bradman Best established players. However, his utility value could see him play as the No.14 or on the wing. On debut, Mapapalangi recorded a try assists to go with 94 running metres before breaking four tackles, running 158 metres and breaking the line once in his second appearance. With the departure of Edrick Lee, Mapapalangi will be pushing to take his spot on the wing, learning his craft before making his way towards the middle of the field having played five-eigth as a junior.
WARRIORS – Luke Metcalf
The talented playmaker scored three tries in seven games for the Sharks since his debut in 2021 and arguably would have played more last season had he not committed his future to the Warriors on a two-year deal through until the end of 2024. The gifted five-eighth has a real chance to push for a starting spot in the Warriors halves and will vie with Te Maire Martin and Shaun Johnson for a halvs position in 2023. The 23-year-old has speed to burn and excellent passing skills and made his mark in first grade ironically when Johnson was ruled out for the rest of his last season at Cronulla due to injury. Martin’s ability to play fullback could see Metcalf slot into the No.6 jersey if he can have a big pre-season and at the very least his versatility could make him the ideal No.14 for the Warriors.
TIGERS – Fonua Pole
The talented young prop played 10 games for the Tigers in his rookie season in 2022 and looks set to take his game to the next level with more opportunities in 2023. The 20-year-old is expected to take on a greater role next season after the departure of skipper James Tamou from the club and he will be eyeing a starting role in the front row. The hard-running prop was born in New Zealand and played his junior football in Victoria before moving to Sydney and working his way through the Tigers pathways. A development player last season, Pole has been upgraded to a top 30 contract for 2023 and 2024. With his barnstorming running game and brutal defence, Pole is tipped to make a big impact after another pre-season at the Tigers under new coach Tim Sheens and assistant Benji Marshall.
DOLPHINS – Isaiya Katoa
The talented halfback was one of the first signings made by inaugural Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett, who poached Katoa from the Panthers on a three-year deal through until the end of 2025, despite the fact he is yet to play first grade. That shows the esteem the 18-year-old is held in and Katoa arguably would have already played first grade were it not for the fact Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai were ahead of him at Penrith. The prodigious halfback has shown his enormous potential scoring a try on debut for Tonga against Papua New Guinea at the World Cup. The brother of former Bulldogs and Panthers player Sione Katoa is tipped for a big future in the NRL and will fight with fellow former Panthers player Sean O’Sullivan for the Dolphins’ halfback jersey, while they could also combine in the halves for Bennett in the club’s first season in 2023.
