Who doesn’t love Finals time? It’s when the competition is reset and everyone starts on zero points again.
It’s where heroes are made and the eight remaining teams and their supporters are all thinking the same thing.
‘We’re going to win the premiership this year!’
Of course, no team can do it alone. It will take 17 players to win a game and while there are star marquee players in every side, which play a bigger role in every victory, there are also what I’d like to call wildcard players as well.
They are the type of player who can split a game wide-open but they’re not always the first people you think of when you say the words ‘game-breaker’.
So today I’m going to highlight two wildcard players from every top eight team, who have the ability to win the game for their team, even though they’re not expected to.
Melbourne Storm
Tyran Wishart: Son of Steelers winger Rod, Wishart has been outstanding for the Storm whether it be at five-eighth or any position he plays. Great footwork too.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona: The big fella can inspire his team with one big hit or powerful run. Solomona’s aggression is also a highlight of his game.
Penrith Panthers
Brian To’o: To’o can make the hard yards and big breaks just when his side need him the most. Hard to stop close to the line too.
Luke Garner: The rangy backrower is mobile enough to play in the centres and runs wonderful lines for the Panthers’ attack, which often results in tries being scored.
Sydney Roosters
Joey Manu: The outside back who can play five-eighth if needed.
Terrell May: Provides great impact off the bench with good leg speed and power.
Cronulla Sharks
Ronaldo Mulitalo: The Sharks really missed his speed and footwork when he was out injured.
Siosifa Talakai: The former Blues player is looking particularly threatening when injected into the forwards. He’s hard to bring down once he gets going.
North Queensland Cowboys
Scott Drinkwater: Provides plenty of attacking prowess whenever he chimes into the backline, his speed makes him a constant threat.
Reuben Cotter: Tough, old-school type of player who enjoys nothing more than charging from the back fence into the defence at full-tilt!
Canterbury Bulldogs
Reed Mahoney: While his mouth may be his biggest weapon, I do like a player who can back it up with some skill.
Viliame Kikau: While I don’t think we’ve seen Kikau at his barnstorming best yet, he’s the type of player that can explode.
Manly Sea Eagles
Luke Brooks: The perfect foil for DCE when he takes on the line and plays heads-up football. When he does, he’s damn hard to stop.
Haumole Olakau’atu: At his rampaging best, Olakau’atu is one of the most dangerous edge backrowers in the NRL. Big, strong and fast and can throw a pass.
Newcastle Knights
Bradman Best: One of the hardest and toughest centres you’d ever meet. He can go missing at times but when he gets involved you want to get out of his way.
Leo Thompson: Is starting to develop quite a reputation as a real tough, uncompromising forward. Can play anywhere in the pack too.
Well that’s it from me this week, folks. Let’s go Panthers!
Peter Lang
Peter Lang is an experienced sports writer, who has been covering rugby league for several decades. He first wrote Lang on League for the Weekender in the 1990s, and worked for Panthers on its famous Panthers Magazine for several years.