NRL club captains: Your team's next leader

Angus Reid

NRL club captains: Your team's next leader image

Leaders are becoming increasingly important in today's rugby league, with pressure put on teams being intensified in the modern era.

Your club needs a strong-willed, emotionally capable captain who never gets too high or low, and is able to cop the brunt of the criticism when things aren't going your way.

While there are some current youngsters who have only just begun their reigns as skipper, that hasn't stopped us from gazing into our crystal ball and looking at your club's next leader.

Read on below to see who has the qualities needed to lead your team out onto the field.

MORE: NRL Immortals: Adding five players at once might cheapen the concept

BRISBANE BRONCOS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: DARIUS BOYD

NEXT CAPTAIN: ANDREW MCCULLOUGH

WHY: Boyd is 31 and contracted to the Broncos until the 2021 season. When the veteran hangs up the boots, McCullough is the man who is likely to take over at Red Hill. 

The 28-year-old veteran has been incredibly consistent at the Broncos since his debut back in 2008, and will bring up game number 250 for Brisbane sometime next year.

Following Cameron Smith's rep retirement earlier this year, McCullough finally made his Queensland debut and donned the Maroons' number nine jersey for Origin.

His defence is brilliant, summed by averaging 42 tackles per match, and his experience should see him get the nod over Brisbane's young, dynamic forward pack.

The other leading contender was Matt Gillett, but because he will turn 30 next year, McCullough gets the nod.

#Andrew McCullough

CANBERRA RAIDERS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: JARROD CROKER

NEXT CAPTAIN: JOSEPH TAPINE

WHY: Croker is still a relatively young skipper, being just 27 years old, and he is contracted in the nation's capital until the end of the 2020 season.

Considering how loved he is by the Green Machine faithful, it's expected he will skipper the Raiders for years to come.

Because of this, we've gone young with Tapine, arguably one of the most underrated second-rowers in the game.

The 24-year-old New Zealand international has played 60 matches for Canberra since his debut in 2016.

This season, Tapine is averaging three tackle breaks, 33 tackles and 85 running metres every time he takes the field.

#Joseph Tapine

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: JOSH JACKSON

NEXT CAPTAIN: DAVID KLEMMER

WHY: Jackson was only named as skipper at Belmore during pre-season this year, and it was envisioned by Dean Pay and co. that he would skipper for years to come.

But the 27-year-old has suffered a dramatic drop in form in 2018 that saw him lose his Blues jersey. On the other hand, David Klemmer has continued to be at his rampaging best.

The only surprising thing about David Klemmer is his age. The prop is only 24.

Jackson is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of the 2020 season and is unlikely to surrender his leadership position before then, but Klemmer is the next in line.

If you want to go younger then you have to start looking at players such as Lachlan Lewis, Kerrod Holland and Fa'amanu Brown, and we haven't seen enough from these talented youngsters as yet.

#David Klemmer

CRONULLA SHARKS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: PAUL GALLEN AND WADE GRAHAM

NEXT CAPTAIN: WADE GRAHAM

WHY: This one is easy, and while Graham is co-captain in the Shire, we can't help but pick him here.

Gallen hasn't revealed whether he will go on another season for the Sharks - but if he does it will be his 19th in the black, white and blue.

Graham has played 172 matches for the Sharks since his move from Penrith in 2011, and he is considered one of the most skilful forwards in the game.

His international experience and calm demeanour make him the perfect candidate to eventually take over as sole skipper of Cronulla.

Graham had previously been trusted with skippering the New South Wales City team.

#Graham Gallen

GOLD COAST TITANS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: RYAN JAMES

NEXT CAPTAIN: JAI ARROW

WHY: Ryan James is still young (27), and has impressed in his time as captain of Gold Coast Titans.

It's never easy to skipper a side that can't find consistency on the pitch, but James steps up week in, week out, and almost played himself into a Blues jersey this year.

Jai Arrow has been anointed as part of the Maroons' future and held his own during his debut in this year's series.

Because of his young age (23) he has the time to learn from James.

In 2015, Arrow also captained the Broncos' NYC side.

#Jai Arrow

MANLY SEA EAGLES

CURRENT CAPTAIN: DALY CHERRY-EVANS

NEXT CAPTAIN: JAKE TRBOJEVIC

WHY: Another easy one. Jake Trbojevic, along with brother Tommy T, is the heart and soul of the Sea Eagles. 

He is a junior of the club, spends his weekends donning the Manly colours and coaching junior football, and is regarded as the Sea Eagles' favourite son.

Cherry-Evans is a fantastic player and is contracted at Manly until the end of the 2023 season, but there are those Manly fans who are calling for Jake to take over now.

Trbojevic has also been spoken about as a future representative leader for NSW and even the Kangaroos, and was previously in charge of the Sea Eagles' 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad.

#Trbojevic Cherry-Evans

MELBOURNE STORM

CURRENT CAPTAIN: CAMERON SMITH

NEXT CAPTAIN: CAMERON MUNSTER

WHY: Cameron Smith is likely to play on next year and further extend his all-time games-playing record.

When he does eventually retire with one of the most distinguished rugby league resumes, his heir to the throne has some big shoes to fill.

When Smith, and legendary fullback Billy Slater leave, we've picked Cameron Munster to take over.

Currently, Munster is one of the form players in the game, and he will be the future of Melbourne along with an impressive forward pack.

Despite a few off-field issues, the responsibility needs to fall on Munster's shoulders.

#Munster Smith

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: MITCHELL PEARCE AND JAMIE BUHRER

NEXT CAPTAIN: MITCHELL BARNETT

WHY: The Knights' captaincy situation is an interesting one. Pearce is at the beginning of a four-year deal which will see him stay at the club until at least the end of 2021.

Jamie Buhrer, his co-captain, isn't currently contracted at the club beyond the end of this season, meaning he is technically playing for his future.

With Barnett playing the way he has this season, and currently being only 24 years old, he is a likely choice to take over the captaincy reigns when Pearce steps down.

Another option is Lachlan Fitzgibbon who has impressed greatly in 2018, especially with his try-scoring prowess.

#Barnett Pearce

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: JOHNATHAN THURSTON AND MATT SCOTT

NEXT CAPTAIN: MICHAEL MORGAN

WHY: Thurston is in his final year, and Scott has suffered an injury-plagued season, meaning there will soon be a captaincy position open at the Cowboys.

The spot is all but Morgan's.

He has been backed by current teammates, including Thurston.

"He did a wonderful job last year and it was an insight into the future of our club," Thurston said in February 2018.

"The more times we get the ball in his hands the better for our team."

#Thurston Morgan

PARRAMATTA EELS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: CLINT GUTHERSON AND TIM MANNAH

NEXT CAPTAIN: CLINT GUTHERSON

WHY: This was tricky, but considering Gutherson was only recently given the reigns at Parramatta, and he is only 23, who in the near future will take the reigns at the Eels?

The answer is probably no one. Parramatta clearly see their future in Gutherson's hands, and with how much the fans love him, you can't blame them.

#Clint Gutherson

PENRITH PANTHERS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: JAMES MALONEY

NEXT CAPTAIN: REAGAN CAMPBELL-GILLARD

WHY: At the start of the year, Peter Wallace was the skipper at the foot of the mountains, but due to injuries, he was forced to retire effective immediately. That left Jimmy to take over the reigns, and there isn't anyone more capable of slotting in as skipper during your first season at a club.

That being said, Maloney, who has been hit with a number of injuries since his successful Origin campain, is 32 and will be leaving the game at some point over the next few years. 

Maloney is contracted at Penrith until the end of the 2020 season, after which it is likely that Campbell-Gillard takes over.

RCG is considered one of the most damaging forwards in the game, and you can see how much he means to Penrith with the club's recent string of poor form directly associated with Campbell-Gillard's absence through injury.

RCG is the ideal choice to lead the Panthers considering he recently signed a huge extension at the club.

#Campbell-Gillard Maloney

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: GREG INGLIS            

NEXT CAPTAIN: DAMIEN COOK

WHY: Sam Burgess has been captain of Souths in GI's absence, but we've gone for Damien Cook because of his age.

Inglis is 31 and contracted until the end of the 2020 season, by which time Burgess will be 32 in December of that year.

At the same point in time, Cook will be 29 in the middle of the season and, if he keeps playing the way he is currently, will have a multitude of representative experience under his belt.

Cook is the competition's best hooker and should be rewarded with a Kangaroos jersey when the time comes, and it's only fair he is next in line to become skipper when Inglis goes.

#Damien Cook

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: GARETH WIDDOP

NEXT CAPTAIN: TYSON FRIZELL

WHY: Widdop is contracted at the Red V until the end of the 2021 season, and it seems unlikely that anyone takes the captaincy reigns off him during that time.

The next is line would surely be Frizell, who has proven to be one of NSW Blues' most consistent (and experienced when you look at this year's side) players.

Frizell has played every Origin match since his debut in 2016, and hasn't looked out of place in a Kangaroos jersey all 10 times he donned the green and gold.

Frizell is the likely choice ahead of Ben Hunt.

#Tyson Frizell

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: BOYD CORDNER AND JAKE FRIEND

NEXT CAPTAIN: LATRELL MITCHELL

WHY: Hear me out.

Cordner is still only 26 years old, and is contracted at the Roosters until the end of the 2022 season.

He is the current Blues skipper, one of two players (other is Inglis) who is likely to be handed the national captaincy, and is a proven leader.

Cordner might be captain at the Roosters for the next six, seven or eight years, meaning the person we have to choose has to be young enough, and impressive enough to pick now.

Enter Latrell Mitchell. The Blues centre's latest performance against the Dragons was breathtaking and cemented his spot as one of the brightest stars in the NRL.

The 21-year-old has proved he has got the skills to be one of the best - if he can demonstrate leadership qualities in the future, there is no reason why he can't skipper the Chooks.

Other interesting options are Angus Crichton and Victor Radley.

#Cordner Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK

NEXT CAPTAIN: JAZZ TEVAGA

WHY: Another difficult one. RTS is only 25, and the Warriors will be aiming to keep the magestic fullback in New Zealand for the remainder of his career.

That means Issac Luke will be too old to take the reigns, along with current vice-captain Adam Blair.

We've gone for a youngster that has proven himself to be a valuable player, while also boasting leadership qualities.

With Luke out for a number of games this year, Tevaga has stepped up and held his own.

He was also named co-captain of the 2015 junior Warriors side.

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WESTS TIGERS

CURRENT CAPTAIN: ELIJAH TAYLOR

NEXT CAPTAIN: MOSES MBYE

WHY: Another difficult one, but we've gone with one of the new star recruits at Wests Tigers to take over as skipper.

Taylor is 28 and contracted up until the end of the 2020 season when Mbye will have two-and-half years under his belt at the club.

The former Bulldogs fullback captained Canterbury's NYC team in 2013, and has been touted for leadership positions since his NRL debut in 2014.

Luke Brooks was the other option considering his age, but we've gone with Mbye due to his greater presence on the field.

#Moses Mbye

Angus Reid

Angus Reid Photo