One eye on the future: The NRL clubs already looking towards 2022 A Set the default text size A Set large text size
Replay A Set the default text size A Set large text size
In Part 2 of my season preview series, we’ll look at the NRL clubs that have already written off the upcoming season and are instead focusing their attention on 2022.
St George Illawarra Dragons
Key additions: Poasa Faamausili (Roosters), Jack Bird (Broncos), Daniel Alvaro (Eels), Andrew McCullough (Broncos)
Key subtractions: Tyson Frizell (Knights), Euan Aitken (Warriors), James Graham (St Helens), Jacob Host (Rabbitohs), Korbin Sims (Hull KR), Jason Saab (Sea Eagles)
.500
In its eighth season in the ACC, Notre Dame has failed to finish .500 or above in the month of February just once (2018-19) – including 6-2 last season – and the second month of the year as keyed some memorable rises in the league standings. See page 4 for more details.
.547
Notre Dame’s three-point shooting percentage in its last two road games (23-42). The Irish were 13-24 at Miami on Jan. 24, then 10-18 at Pittsburgh on Jan. 30.
.566
Notre Dame career field goal percentage for graduate forward Juwan Durham, which would rank him fifth on the Irish career charts since 1996-97 for a player with at least 200 FGM. See page 4 for more.
Wests Tigers have landed a significant retention coup with star winger David Nofoaluma set to sign a four-year deal with an eye to keeping him at his junior club for his entire career.
Outs: Josh Reynolds (Hull FC), Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles), Matthew Eisenhuth (Panthers), Harry Grant (Storm), Robert Jennings (Panthers), Chris Lawrence (Retired), Benji Marshall (released), Sam McIntyre (Titans), Chris McQueen (retired), Paul Momirovski (released), Dylan Smith (released), Elijah Taylor (released)
Players in the 2020 Rich 100: 5 - 21. Moses Mbye ($815,000), 36. Russell Packer ($750,000), 50. Joey Leilua ($700,000), 69. Adam Doueihi ($625,000), 71. Luke Brooks ($600,000) Michael Maguire came under pressure during the back half of the year as the Tigers season stalled. Maguire is attempting to rebuild the club from the ground up and is still carrying players signed by the previous coach. Maguire will be hoping that the key signings of James Tamou and James Roberts push the club into the top eight. His head may be on the chopping block if they do not.
“I’ve been following Salford over the last two years and have always wanted to play in the Super League at some stage. Speaking with Rich [coach Richard Marshall], I’m excited about playing for the club.” Taylor, who made 186 NRL first grade appearances, played with Salford’s Krisnan Inu and Sebastine Ikahihifo at the Warriors and with Red Devils standoff Tui Lolohea at Wests Tigers. Marshall said his new recruit has “the quality to have a massive impact on this team with his actions on and off the field. “He already has a good relationship with Tui from their time at Wests Tigers, and I’m looking forward to seeing them play together in Salford shirts.