Tuesday 2 February 2016 10:06, UK
Sky Sports' Phil Clarke has identified eight young players he thinks will have an impact in Super League this year...
In a competition of over 300 players it's pretty hard to pick out the stars of the upcoming season, but I've selected a group who I think will entertain and excite us both this season, and for several more after it.
Most of them were born on or around the time that Super League started and, as we enter our 21st season, this group are the ones set to light up 2016.
Junior club: Stanningley
He was the star of the Million Pound Game and excited me every time he got the ball. His try-scoring record in 2015 was amazing, especially when you take into account that he played for a team at the bottom of the table.
He scores the kind of tries that could well have him mentioned in Try of the Season talks in October.
Junior club: Skirlaugh
His introduction to Super League hasn't been that pleasant or enjoyable. His debut at Wigan in 2014 wasn't a great experience but he's shown his resilience in 2015 and started to improve as each game passes.
It doesn't surprise me that he's been given the No 4 jersey in the squad, he's arguably one of the most exciting centres around. I think he'll eventually play for England if he can continue to improve in defence.
Junior club: Normanton Knights
He played in 15 of Wigan's games last year and was at one time being picked ahead of Matt Bowen, but that was as a full-back.
The word on the street is that he wants to play in the half-backs and hopes to do that under Daryl Powell. He's fast and he knows how to play rugby league. He'll add another attacking threat to the Tigers this season.
Junior club: Siddal
Learning how to be a Super League player at Salford isn't easy, but this young man seems to have worked a lot of it out for himself. He scored nine tries in the last 11 games of 2015 for Salford and has more speed than most of his rivals.
Scott Taylor was the only team-mate to make more metres than him in 2015 and he's slowly starting to develop his passing to add another string to his bow.
Junior club: Siddal
I'm not sure I know what his best position is yet, or if he's quite developed the self-discipline to maximise his talents, but he can do things on a field that very few others can.
If he can focus his aggression in a positive way he could have a brilliant 10-year career in Super League.
Junior club: Catalans
Just like Niall Evalds, he's had to learn the hard way at what's looked like a dysfunctional set-up at Salford. He moved from France and has played over 60 games in the last 3 years - I wonder how many young English players could have moved to France at the same age and developed the way he has.
He's been able to watch and learn from Michael Dobson and Rangi Chase, and now has Sean Long as a mentor. After playing in one of the weaker teams for the last few years he's now at one of the strongest. It was a great long-term decision by the Saints to sign him and I think we'll be mentioning his name a lot in 2016.
Junior club: Leigh Miners
Last year was a fairy-tale season. He began the year playing for Workington at Derwent Park and ended it playing for Wigan at Old Trafford. He averaged around a try a game in Super League in 2015 and could possibly be better than both Joe Burgess and Josh Charnley.
He's fit, fast, fearsome and fresh, and has a great chance of ending the year as a top-try scorer.
Junior club: Hunslet Warriors
His 2015 season ended with a knee injury in June and he had to watch as his team-mates lifted three trophies in quick succession. He already has almost 60 appearances as a Rhino and has proven that he can play well as either a full-back, stand-off or loose forward.
He's a better attacking threat than Kevin Sinfield, but can he defend and kick as well as the legend that he replaces? It would surprise me if he does not win the Man of Steel award in the next four or five years.
