The NRL returns for 2020 with the popular pre-season nine player shindig in the form of the 2020 NRL Nines in Perth this weekend.
While a lot of press has been given to the casually un-retired ex players for this weekend’s 2020 NRL Nines, there are huge opportunities for current fringe players to catch the eye before the season starts.
Not that a big Nines tournament automatically leads to regular season game time, but it can’t hurt.
Here’s a few players that we think might catch the eye this weekend. Forgive a little PNG bias in advance.
2020 NRL Nines Players to Watch
EDWIN IPAPE – Manly
One of the real finds of the 2019 International scene. Ipape was plucked from real obscurity in the 2019 International break to play for the PNG side against Samoa. At the time he was playing for the second tier Wynnum side in the competition below the Queensland Cup.
He shone for PNG that night despite defeat, and was one of the Kumul’s best in both of the end of season games, including the big win over Great Britain. His best work was the game changing 65m try from dummy half just before the break, captured on Youtube for your enjoyment below.
On the strength of those performances, he was given a training deal with Manly, and the Perth NRL Nines is a great opportunity to show what he can offer. Especially given Manly’s hooker depth this season.
NICHO HYNES – Melbourne
Melbourne continue to blessed with a bounty of fullbacks, never more evident in the post Billy Slater era when they can give away a talent like Scott Drinkwater, who before injury was nailed to be Melbourne’s fullback at the start of 2019.
The Storm’s man to watch this weekend is another fullback – Nicho Hynes – who impressed greatly in his only game in the NRL last season, and has been super impressive every time we have seen him in the Intrust Super Cup for the Sunshine Coast.
He may well have to wait for his turn in 2020 like Ryan Papenhuyzen did in 2019, and like the fellow Falcon, Hynes will be worth waiting for. This weekend we will no doubt get a taste of what the super talented Nicho Hynes can offer the Storm this season.
JESSIE ARTHARS – Broncos
Arthars has been pinched from the Gold Coast Titans for the 2020 season, and with the reshuffling of the backline for the new season he has a real chance to claim the fullback spot over the other main candidate Jamayne Isaako.
Arthars shone for Burleigh enough early last season to end up spending half a season with the Titans, but the move to Broncos opens up a chance at playing fullback. There’s nothing like the free space of the Nines Tournament to showcase his pace and skill.
EDENE GEBBIE – South Sydney
This PNG International lit up the Intrust Super Cup last season, topping the running metres stats by plenty, as well of plenty of tries scored. And many, many exciting length of the field runs from the back.
Souths recognised what he offers early last season and signed him up well before the end of the season for 2020. Gebbie did well in the two end of season Tests for the Kumuls, after being a little quiet in the mid season match.
One downside of the hiring of Latrell Mitchell means Gebbie will get significantly less game time now the former Roosters has joined and stated his intention of playing fullback, so the PNG flyer at least has the Nines to stake a claim for a position elsewhere in the backline this weekend.
BRAYDEN TRINDALL – Sharks
The fringe Sharks player gets his turn this weekend at the Nines, and after a good season with Newtown in the NSW Cup where he scored 9 tries in 24 games, and led the competition for goals scored and kicking metres, he’ll be looking to impress on the big stage of the NRL Nines.
Trindall was man of the match when the Sharks won a Jersey Flegg title in 2018, and has also played for the Queensland Under 20’s side.
He may not get too many opportunities to show what he do in the NRL in 2020, although the Sharks current halfback Shaun Johnson is a little unreliable with injury, gives him hope that a decent Nines tournament will have him close to NRL selection.
DRINKWATER v CLIFFORD and ROBSON v GRANVILLE – North Qld Cowboys
The Cowboys have two keys positions to be sorted before the 2020 NRL season gets underway, and they are two of the crucial spine positions.
With Michael Morgan thankfully being restored to the halves, and the signing of Valentine Holmes from the US to play fullback, that leaves Scott Drinkwater and Jake Clifford to fight it out as Morgan halves partner.
Another purchase for 2020 – Reece Robson from the Dragons – provides another selection dilemma for the Cowboys in the hooker position. Incumbent Jake Granville will be hard to remove, but Robson will be very close to nailing the starting position, and more so with a big weekend in Perth.
MATT SOPER-LAWLER – Newcastle Knights
Soper-Lawler has returned home to Newcastle for the 2020 season, after developing the very good reputation for himself in three seasons in the Intrust Super Cup in Queensland. The try scoring winger landed a train and trial deal with his home town club in the off season, and sounds determined to make it at the Knights.
Soper-Lawler scored 54 tries in 67 games in the Intrust Super Cup, and was the leading try scorer in the competition last season with the Souths Logan, which was a decent effort in a side that struggled for wins.
One can only imagine what a try scorer like Soper-Lawler could do when combining with Kalyn Ponga in the backline, and this weekend we at least get to see what he can do
VILIAME KIKAU – Penrith
So maybe he’s not one of the up and comers knocking on the door like a lot of the other selections, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the big man light up the 2020 NRL Nines in Perth.
Given the giant second rower is a handful on the field with 13 opponents, one can only imagine if he’s fully fit how much havoc he’ll cause on the fringes.
Perhaps 2020 is the season where he shoots into super stardom in the NRL and leads Penrith to NRL success. Starting in Perth this weekend.
BLAKE FERGUSON, CLINT GUTHERSON, MAIKA SIVO – Parramatta Eels
Another selection of players who should feature regularly in 2020, but having this first choice back three available at the 2020 NRL Nines is a real statement of the Eels intention to be very competitive.
Maika Sivo had a breakout 2019 season, and one is hoping his 22 tries in 25 games is no one off and/or second season syndrome doesn’t kick in.
Blake Ferguson is an enigma, and entertains whenever he is on the field, and Clint Gutherson has been one of the NRL’s in form players over the last two seasons. Perhaps ready to squeeze into a Blues jersey in 2020.
