The reigning premiers have a huge off-season problem that is set to leave coach Ivan Cleary with a big headache.
North Queensland will be desperate to keep a young gun, while the Eels’ premiership window could be closing.
The Storm also are facing a player exodus and Craig Bellamy will be looking to replenish his forward pack.
Read on for the NRL top eight’s biggest off-season issue.
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PANTHERS
Biggest issue: Replacing Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau
Analysis: The Panthers have done well to lose just two players for their double title defence in 2023, but unfortunately they will leave a massive void to fill. Apart from Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, Koroisau is arguably the most important player to the Panthers’ attack and he is a proven winner having won three premierships in his career. His nuance, creativity and speed out of dummhalf as well as his rock solid defence takes the pressure off the other Penrith playmakers and allows them to work their magic. Soni Luke and Mitch Kenny will likely have to replace him by committee next season, but they will have massive shoes to fill. Kikau was the enforcer of the Penrith pack on both sides of the ball and provided the X-factor to strike fear in the opposition, while he also complimented Liam Martin’s game perfectly. Luke Garner is a solid signing, but certainly not a like for like replacement and there will be more pressure on James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Spencer Leniu to take up the slack caused by Kikau’s departure to the Bulldogs.
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SHARKS
Biggest issue: Taking the team to the next level and peaking at the right time of year
Analysis: The Sharks made giant strides in 2022 to finish second in the regular season, but their defence deserted them in a disappointing straight sets finals exit. The loss of veteran forwards Andrew Fifita and Aiden Tolman is offset somewhat by the signing of Eels enforcer Oregon Kaufusi, but he is the only recruit the Sharks have for 2023, so Craig Fitzgibbon will have to rely on largely the same roster to get the job done next season. The team should learn plenty from their first season together under Fitzgibbon and will be better for another off-season together, but they won’t fly under the radar after their impressive 2022 campaign and no one will be taking them lightly. The pressure will be on Nicho Hynes to back up from his outstanding season and get the side humming again in attack in 2023.
COWBOYS
Biggest issue: Keeping Jeremiah Nanai.
Analysis: The Dally M Rookie of the Year and one of the most dynamic players in the game — Jeremiah Nanai. The 19-year-old enjoyed a stunning rise in 2022 and played a crucial role in the Cowboys’ preliminary finals charge and Maroons series victory. Nanai signed a one-year extension to prolong the feeding frenzy, but come November 1 Nanai will be able to test his worth on the open market. Nanai reportedly wants to remain in North Queensland, who reportedly put $2 million on the table earlier in the year, however the Cowboys may be unable to match the lucrative offers tabled by rival clubs. Todd Payten will be desperate to keep his star backrower and with World Cup experience under his belt with the Kangaroos, Nanai could develop even more before the 2023 season.
EELS
Biggest issue: Filling the void of their player exodus
Analysis: The Eels have lost six of their top 17 players in Marata Niukore (Warriors), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers), Oregon Kaufusi (Sharks), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Ray Stone (Dolphins), Tom Opacic (Hull KR), while Nathan Brown could also be on his way out of the club. That leaves a massive hole in their side that will need to be filled. The signings of Josh Hodgson (Raiders), J’maine Hopgood (Panthers), Jirah Momoisea (Knights) will offset it somewhat, but the latter two are still yet to prove themselves as regular first graders. The loss of Mahoney is the biggest concern as he was so crucial to the side’s attack and holding together the middle defence. Hodgson is coming off a number of serious injuries and is past his best years, although he will be motivated to prove the doubters wrong. The players will be motivated to avenge their grand final loss, but on paper the 2023 squad looks much weaker than the side that went within 80 minutes of ending their premiership drought.
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STORM
Biggest issue: Replenishing their depleted forward pack
Analysis: The Storm are entering the unknown with their rock solid forward pack decimated by the departures of veterans Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Jesse Bromwich (Dolphins) and Kenny Bromwich (Dolphins). For so long the club has built their success around a reliable and consistent forward pack, but replacing the club stalwarts will be no easy feat. The Bromwich brothers and Kaufusi have been a rock for the Storm upfront, while Smith took the pressure off Harry Grant having to play 80 minutes, while his versatility gave Craig Bellamy flexibility and a real point of difference. Eliesa Katoa (Warriors) and Tariq Sims (Dragons) are intriguing signings and will both be motivated to show their previous clubs what they let go, but that doesn’t always equal results on the field. The pressure will be on Bellamy to get his forwards rotation firing because not even the Storm’s brilliant backline can shine without a platform upfront.
ROOSTERS
Biggest issue: Getting Brandon Smith to click with their spine
Analysis: The Roosters struggled to get their spine going in 2022 as pre-season premiership favourites tags were proven way off the mark before a late season surge. The departure of Sam Verrills and the arrival of Storm hooker Brandon Smith means they will have to start again in 2023. How Smith combines with Sam Walker and Luke Keary could have a massive impact on whether this team returns to the top four and competes for the title or stays in the middle of the pack. Smith came to the club to play hooker, but he is not your classic dummyhalf and their could be growing pains as there were this year for the Roosters. However, Smith is in a similar mould to Jake Friend, who helped lead the club to their last two titles and his toughness and spark out of dummyhalf could give the Roosters some real X-factor. If Smith can stay injury free and out of trouble his signing could prove a masterstroke and propel the Roosters back to the top, but if it isn’t the right fit questions will be asked.
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RABBITOHS
Biggest issue: Getting Lachlan Ilias and Cody Walker to fire as a halves combination
Analysis: The Rabbitohs did well to reach the preliminary final in Ilias’ first year of first grade, but the problem they had was of the club’s own making. By letting Adam Reynolds go they were back to square one with their spine combinations and it was always going to take time and maybe even years for Ilias to grow into a consistent and reliable first grade No.7. The cold hard facts are Souths need more from Ilias if they want to win a premiership in 2023 and they need Cody Walker to return to his best. Ilias has a lot of work to do on his kicking game because his pop gun kicks that are not quite a bomb and not quite a chip kick gives his chasers no chance of contesting the ball and putting pressure on the opposition. Ilias need to get the ball higher to give his chasers a chance and put opposition fullbacks under pressure. The halfback possess an exciting running game and he needs to back himself more to take the pressure off Walker and Latrell Mitchell and allow them to stick to their own games and what they do well, which is run the ball and create for their outside men. If Ilias can fast track his development Souths have the squad to go all the way, but if he is still a few years away from reaching his potential then the Rabbitohs won’t be breaking their preliminary final curse until he does.
RAIDERS
Biggest issue: Unlocking Tom Starling and finding a lock.
Analysis: Since Josh Hodgson’s ACL injury, the Raiders have been looking for their best option at dummy-half. Zac Woolford has been solid since making his debut in Round 10, while Tom Starling hasn’t lived up to the hype and was used as the No.14 for majority of the season. Adam Elliott also started at hooker twice and was impressive but will ply his trade for the Knights next season. Starling was billed as the club’s hooker in waiting after Hodgson signed with the Eels for 2023. The 24-year-old declared he wanted to be the Raiders hooker for years to come but struggled when tasked with playing long minutes. Meanwhile, the loss of Elliott unlocks another problem — who will play lock? Elliott was out injured in the finals and Corey Harawira-Naera and Corey Horsburgh were tasked with taking over the role. The elite NRL clubs have locks who play big minutes and Stuart will be desperate to pick and stick his No.13 this season.
