The Dally M Awards are just around the corner and yet again we have seen numerous talented youngsters stake their claim for the Rooke of the Year award.
Unlike previous years where we have seen Jeremiah Nanai or Payne Haas sweep the voting, there is no consensus pick for the NRL’s leading rookie in 2023.
Only players who have played a maximum of five games over the previous two seasons in either the Super League or NRL are eligible for the award.
The Sporting News has compiled a list of who is most likely to win the 2023 NRL Rookie of the Year award.
Honourable mention - Valynce Te Whare (Dolphins)
The colossal centre developed in rapid time into an NRL cult-hero with his monster display against the Sharks in Magic Round.
Scoring two tries on debut, Te Whare was an absolute tank when running the ball and broke tackles with ease. He totalled 41 tackle breaks and six tries across his 12 appearances.
Te Whare did struggle defensively and with his motor which is likely why Wayne Bennett was reluctant to heavily rely on the Kiwi.
Being an ex-rugby union convert, he is likely to pick up the nuances of rugby league defence and the speed of the game as time progresses which should ultimately help him flourish as a player.
10. Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters)
Siua Wong was one of the most coveted prospects in junior footy over the past couple of years.
The talented back-rower had already featured on the international stage with Fiji at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup and had been bossing the SG Ball and NSW Cup competitions.
The arrival of Wong to the NRL may have taken longer than most had expected but since his debut in Round 18, he has not looked back.
Wong’s insertion into the Roosters' side has coincided with their late-season push into the finals as he has fit seamlessly into an already established team.
His elimination final appearance where he recorded nine tackle breaks, 122 run metres, 31 tackles and a try showcased his abilities in what was a massive game.
He has zero chance of winning the Rookie of the Year award because of his limited time on the field, but it is hard to deny that he is one of the brightest prospects in rugby league.
9. Brendan Hands (Parramatta Eels)
The Eels’ hooker situation which relied heavily on the performance of Josh Hodgson seemed dire once he had succumbed to injury.
Hands provided the Eels with relief in the hooker role with his direct and quick play out of dummy-half becoming a key piece to their attack.
Hands held his own in the middle, defensively capable of making tackles with good proficiency over 80 minutes.
It was a surprise when Brad Arthur elected Joey Lussick as their starter after arriving from the Super League as Hands’ play to that point had been solid.
Whilst Hands’ desire and motor cannot be questioned, he does still need to work on his craft which should come with time in the first grade.
8. Thomas Hazelton (Cronulla Sharks)
In a Cronulla side that puts heavy emphasis on having a mobile and agile forward pack, Hazelton seemed out of place.
What he lacks in quickness he makes up with brute force and power as the 6’6 giant made an awesome impact off the interchange bench.
He was a constant nuisance for defences as he always made post-contact metres and showed that he could find the try-line notching three in his debut year.
Hazelton has been a welcomed surprise for the Sharks this season and expect him to have a larger role amongst their forwards in 2024.
7. Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)
Easily the most hyped prospect coming into 2023, Katoa showed glimpses of that immense potential throughout this year.
Like Wong, Katoa had already built a reputation as an elite young talent with Samoa at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup and in the Panthers junior system.
Katoa hasn’t been necessarily flashy, but he has showcased a class and composure to his game that most rookies lack.
Being paired with numerous different halves partners and a forever altering spine hasn’t seemed to phase the teenager in the slightest.
Katoa has a kicking game and an attacking skillset which should serve him over a long successful career.
6. Zac Hosking (Penrith Panthers)
The first elder statesman on this list, Hosking has shown for years that he had the capabilities of performing in the NRL but was just yet to receive a genuine opportunity.
The 26-year-old had won two NSW Cup Player of the Year awards during his time in the Knights system.
We got a glimpse of his ability in his four appearances for Brisbane in 2022 but it has been this season with the Panthers that he developed into a reliable contributor.
Since Round Four, Hosking has been a key piece to the Panthers' amazing year, putting in multiple 80-minute performances in the second row and centres.
He went from the fourth-string edge forward option to a starter and has remained within the starting rotation all season.
He does what Ivan Cleary values really well, he is defensively sound, runs his holes perfectly and understands how to work within Penrith’s rigid attacking structure.
5. Sunia Turuva (Penrith Panthers)
Another player who grew his following via a standout display at the recent Rugby League World Cup is Turuva.
Named in the RLWC 2021 Team of the Tournament, Turuva was a star at fullback for Fiji and brought that form into his rookie season.
With Taylan May’s ACL injury ruling him out of 2023 and Charlie Staines, Robert Jennings and Christian Crichton departing in the offseason, the Panthers were desperate for Turuva to perform.
He has risen to the occasion spectacularly ranking in the top five amongst wingers for tackle breaks and has a respectable total of 11 tries for the season.
He has matched both Dylan Edwards and Brian To’o in terms of kick returning sitting fifth in run metres in the NRL.
Turuva has shown in 2023 that he isn’t just an excitement machine but a workhorse that doesn’t shy away from making the tough hit-ups.
4. Will Warbrick (Melbourne Storm)
Many were unsure of the impact Warbrick would have in his first season in the NRL.
There was no doubt Warbrick possessed pedigree with an Olympic silver medal in Rugby 7’s and success in Australian Rules Football with New Zealand.
It was just how that athleticism and skillset would transfer over to the NRL and whether he would be given the opportunity to develop in a premiership-contending Storm side.
With very limited depth amongst their backs, the Storm were desperate for the Warbrick project to work.
It would take Warbrick time to establish himself but as the season has progressed, so has his impact.
Warbrick isn’t a flashy natural finisher like Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, although he does possess immense power and explosiveness that makes him extremely hard to handle.
He is a great leaper and grew into more of a try-scoring threat throughout the season.
Outside of some minor defensive deficiencies, it looks like the Storm have unearthed another unknown gem.
3. Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Gold Coast Titans)
If you had watched his highlights prior to his debut season you would know that Khan-Pereira was a walking highlight reel.
The Titans flyer looked destined for NRL stardom since his time in the Queensland Cup with the Burleigh Bears.
Just four rounds in it was evident that Khan-Pereira belonged in the NRL with five tries in that period.
AKP would finish the year with 20 tries finishing tied for sixth in the race for the top try-scorer title.
Although impressive, it was Khan-Pereira’s ability to consistently break the opposition line with his runs and his defensive know-how that really stood out.
AKP in a single season has not only displayed a try-scoring prowess that rivals elite NRL wingers but an understanding of the game that some wingers fail to ever grasp.
2. Jacob Preston (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
The most reliable and courageous forward for the Dogs this season was rookie Preston.
The Bulldogs were yet again disappointing in 2023 and despite their influx of signings like Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney, it was the 21-year-old who outshone everyone.
Preston’s output was matched by very few, he not only was a menace in attack with his ferocious hole running but also was immense defensively.
His 95.5 per cent tackle efficiency rating from his 796 tackles attempted was exceptional, especially in a Bulldogs side that conceded the most points during the regular season.
Preston would win the Bulldogs Player of the Year, Members' Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year awards highlighting the season he had.
Based solely on performance, Preston has arguably been the best rookie. If he was able to avoid his late season suspension, he would have comfortably won the award.
1. Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers)
The rise of Bula has been meteoric and unexpected as the fullback who was thrust into a winless Tigers side in Round Eight has been spectacular.
Bula was fairly inexperienced coming into the NRL with just three NSW Cup games and a single season of Jersey Flegg competition under his belt.
In a year where the Tigers only managed just four wins and gave their fans very little to cheer about Bula consistently showed up.
He has a well-rounded attacking repertoire with silky ball-playing skills, excellent footwork and a willingness to continually probe around the ball carrier for offload opportunities.
Bula has shown x-factor, he had a whopping eight try saves with two directly winning his side matches and an outstanding run where he beat multiple Titans and fended off Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to score.
He finished 2023 with five tries, 59 tackle breaks and seven try assists and although these numbers might not be remarkable, he was doing this on the last-placed Tigers who showed no attacking threat before his debut.
The fullback sensation won all three Tigers end-of-season awards taking out the Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards.
He would lead Preston when Dally M voting closed to the public in Round 12 by five points, even though he appeared in five fewer games than the Bulldog candidate up to that point.
The Tigers' sole reliance on Bula to create and his capacity to make highlights should lean into the voting system which is why he is most likely to win the Dally M Rookie of the Year award.
