NRL Rookie Watch: Which Panthers are worth keeping an eye on in 2023?

With the 2023 NRL season nearing, we list the crop of rookies from each club worth keeping tabs on as they aim to join the elite list of budding stars with a Rookie of the Year award to their name.

As per the NRL, “players are eligible for the Rookie of the Year in their debut season and the subsequent two NRL seasons … Once a player plays five (5) NRL Premiership matches (or English Super League matches), he becomes ineligible for the Rookie of the Year in any subsequent seasons”.

Sunia Turuva

It may come as a shock that Fijian standout Turuva is still qualifies as a rookie. The 20-year-old made his international debut and NRL debut last season playing five games for Fiji Bati and three for Penrith. Turuva starred for Fiji in their midyear clash against the Kumuls before playing a decisive role in their World Cup campaign which included a Player of the Match performance in their group stage win over Scotland. A capable fullback, winger, and centre, Turuva helped guide the Panthers to a NSW Cup title last season scoring 13 tries in 20 games, breaking 94 tackles, and averaging 169 metres per contest before capping the year off with a pair of finals doubles. In his four World Cup games, he broke 26 tackles and averaged 196 metres per game. With Taylan May suspended to start the season, Turuva firms as the favourite to line-up on one of Penrith’s wings opposite Brian To’o as he looks to establish himself as a week-to-week first-grader.

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Thomas Jenkins

Jenkins made his NRL debut in Penrith’s final regular season outing of last season after a stellar NSW Cup season. Potent both in the centres and on the wing, the 21-year-old scored 20 tries in 22 NSW Cup games last season whilst assisting on six others and breaking 73 tackles. One of his most impressive outings of the year came in Round 21 when he scored a double, broke eight tackles, and ran for 155 metres in a win over Western Suburbs. Hailing from the Riverina region of NSW, Jenkins will hope to add to his tally of NRL games this season as Penrith aim to become the first team of the NRL era to threepeat. Stephen Crichton’s departure from the club at the end of 2023 opens up a vacancy at right centre – a spot Jenkins would certainly have his eyes on. With Charlie Staines, Robert Jennings, and Christian Crichton all having left the club, Jenkins has a golden opportunity to make a climb up the outside backs depth chart and prove his first-grade credentials.

Zac Hosking

Hosking made his NRL debut last year as a 25-year-old under Kevin Walters at Brisbane and impressed enough in his four games to catch the eye of the defending premiers as they look to replenish their edge forward stocks following the departure of Viliame Kikau. In four appearances last year with the Broncos, Hosking averaged 122 run metres and made 129 tackles. Standing at 6-foot-6, Hosking proved a handful to contain in the games he filled in on Brisbane’s edge and will be eager to earn more opportunities this year under Ivan Cleary. In 15 Queensland Cup games for Wynnum-Manly last year, he scored four tries, broke 19 tackles, and made 442 tackles at over 95 per cent efficiency. Reliable on an edge and in the middle, he will hope to play his way into Penrith’s rotation as the season progresses and prove he has what it takes to contribute consistently at NRL level.

Jesse McLean

Named an Australian Schoolboy last year, many fans caught their first glimpse of McLean in Penrith’s trial against Parramatta on Saturday where he lined up on the wing. He managed a try, a team-high 189 metres, and four tackle breaks as Penrith ran out 22-16 winners. Still just 18, McLean enjoyed a standout S.G. Ball campaign last season which ended with him bagging a try-double in the side’s Grand Final win. He was awarded the club’s S.G. Ball Emerging Talent Award last season before being rewarded with a top 30 spot this season. McLean will set his sights on an NRL debut this season – perhaps when the squad is inevitably gutted by Origin – as the Penrith pipeline continues fighting hard to replace superstar departees.

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