After handing out gold, silver and bronze to the NRL’s best performed players and coaches this season, I thought I would wrap up the Olympics theme with one last batch of medals.
As proven in Tokyo, this year has shot some young stars from obscurity to immediate stardom.
We saw Ariarne Titmus, Zac Stubblety-Cook and skateboarder Keegan Palmer have their lives changed overnight as gold medals turned them from relative unknowns to national heroes.
Taking a look at the 2021 NRL season, the same can be said for some bright lights who have had their chance to debut this year and make a name for themselves in first-grade football.
GOLD: Reece Walsh - New Zealand Warriors
Claiming gold, is none other than Warriors wonder-kid Reece Walsh.
The 18-year-old fullback was selected in the Queensland Origin side after just seven games at NRL level.
While an injury ruled him out of making his state debut, he’s dominated for his club, scoring nine tries in his 13 games.
Perhaps the biggest telling point of his immediate impact is the fact that the club moved former captain and Dally M winner Roger Tuivasa-Scheck to the wing to get him in the line-up.
The Warriors are literally all in on this kid who hasn't even once in his life stepped foot in New Zealand yet.
For mine, he might just be ahead of both Kalyn Ponga and Benji Marshall at the same age, he has a seriously bright future ahead of him.
SILVER: Sam Walker - Sydney Roosters
Claiming silver, is Sydney’s Sam Walker.
The young half was always touted to get a run this year, but he was meant to be eased in alongside the company of NRL legends Luke Keary, Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Brett Morris.
Obviously, things haven't gone to plan for coach Trent Robinson who was forced to throw him into a sink or swim scenario. Well, he has swum.
In his 15 games, Walker has guided the Roosters to 10 wins. For context of what he’s done, in fewer games than the incumbent NSW halfback Mitch Moses, he has nine more try contributions than him.
A mind-blowing start to his NRL career.
BRONZE: Josh Schuster - Manly Sea Eagles
I know he played a game in 2020...but taking out bronze is Manly’s surprise packet Josh Schuster.
Look at the size of this kid, the versatility and his supreme skills should almost guarantee that this boy plays 200+ NRL games.
He’s a bullet proof signing, and who knows, he genuinely may be a difference making x-factor come September for the Sea Eagles