2016 Rookie Hookers to watch

Find a quality hooker and you’re well on your way to a quality NRLCEO side. The trouble is when you’re looking for a young hooker than the incumbent is usually very established, so rookies don’t come around very often.

In saying that, here are five rookies I believe could make an impact in the 2016 NRL season at hooker on the back of Origin duties and injuries.

Brisbane Broncos: Jayden Berrell

Broncos coach Wayne Bennett values work ethic in his players and his under-20s hooker Jayden Berrell is all that and more. A Junior Kangaroos and Queensland under-20s representative this season, Berrell was one of five Broncos players named in the Holden Cup Team of the Year will join the Broncos’ full-time squad in the 2016 pre-season. Averaging 29 tackles per game, Berrell also boasts 16 line-break assists and 17 try assists in 24 games. A injury to Andrew McCullough and Berrell will be knocking on Bennett’s door, asking ‘To put me in Coach’.

Melbourne Storm: Slade Griffin

In age Giffin is no rookie but in numbers played in the NRL (10) we still class the 25-year-old as a rookie in the NRL. A third ACL injury in four years cut Slade Griffin’s 2015 season short, forcing the hard working forward off the field for the majority of the year. As the only notable hooker behind Cam Smith, Griffin will play an important role during the year for the Storm throughout the difficult Origin period. He provide support in play-making roles for Craig Bellamy’s side.

Penrith Panthers: Sione Katoa

In 2015, Katoa graduated on to the Panthers’ New South Wales Cup team and captained the side later on. Played for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos. A injury to James Segeyaro and this kid will become an 80 minute player in 2016, as Katoa is the only other hooker in the Panthers’ top 25. A 2016 debut from Katoa is almost a certainty, the question is when?

Newcastle Knights: Daniel Levi

Played seven games in 2015 as a 19-year-old scoring two tries. With compete for the starting Hooker role in pre-season against Tyler Randell, but is expected to play second fiddle and come off the bench. Holden Cup Team of the Year and Junior Kiwis in 2014-15. I am expecting Levi with his class coming from the bench, that Nathan Brown will want him on the field for longer and will over take Randell as the #1 Hooker at the Knights.

Manly Sea Eagles: Matt Parcell

Debut in Rd 12 of the 2015 NRL season to cover for Bronco’s harsh State of Origin representative period. Managed six games in Wayne Bennet’s side, but Parcell joins the Sea Eagles on a lucrative three year deal. His sizzling form for Ipswich has seen the Jets move to within 80 minutes of their first premiership. Parcell has scored eight tries in three semi-finals for the Jets, including five in one game against Easts Tigers, but while he’s blessed with many qualities, possibly his greatest attribute is his versatility. I expect New Coach Trent Barrett will give this kid plenty of game time in 2016.

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1. The top fantasy guns in 2016

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Granty

Granty is a football nut. Even more so, he's a fantasy football nut! He lives and breathes NRL and AFL. Sifting through the news, gossip and forums to bring you the best information for your fantasy teams.

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