As the 2024 NRL premiership season draws closer, The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis weighs in on which player at every club needs a big 2024.
In this iteration, Carayannis looks at which players from the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Warriors are under the most pressure to perform.
St George Illawarra Dragons
Tyrell Sloan
“He’s now played 36 games, he’s 21 and he spent this off-season being challenged by coach Shane Flanagan to build a tougher edge,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“He can do some things (that others can’t) and he's got tremendous upside. He could be a game-changer for the Dragons but where he needs to work is off the ball.
“He could lead this Dragons side out of the dumps (to) become a top eight team long-term.
“He’s also off-contract as well (at the end of 2024).
“Untapped talent and we have seen glimpses of it. He has the opportunity to be a decade-long fullback at the club.
“One of Shane Flanagan’s biggest tests is getting the best out of Tyrell Sloan.
“I’m going to be really interested to see how he performs in the trial games (because) it’s always hard for a young player to come into a struggling side.
“I hope he does well because he has all the talent and the Dragons need him to perform.”
Warriors
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
“He was once a one-man show at the club and won a Dally M Medal,” Carayannis added.
“Roger is now coming into a Warriors side on the back of some success.
“He hasn’t played rugby league for two years and is switching positions (to the centres) so there’s a lot for him to unpack.
“Roger comes into a side that has expectation on them now (and) it’s something that they haven’t done well with in the past.
“He and Shaun Johnson are also the faces of rugby league in that country so that’s why I think Roger, coming back into the game, will have a bit of pressure on him.”
The Warriors will host the Cronulla Sharks in Round 1 whilst the Dragons will travel to the Gold Coast to take on the Titans.