In our current issue, we focus on the NRL Players To Watch in 2014. For our Pigskin Preview, we’ve chosen boom Canberra Raiders star Jack Wighton and Titans enforcer Ryan James.

JACK WIGHTON

Holding on to rising centre/five-eighth star Jack Wighton was extremely important for the Canberra Raiders. They’ve been able to secure the Orange CYMS junior’s services for the next three years as they commence a campaign to stop themselves from haemorrhaging their best young talent – like the already-gone Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson and 2015 Brisbane Bronco Anthony Milford. It’s expected Wighton will be tried in the centre position vacated by the sacked Ferguson, but former Parramatta Eels mentor, now Canberra Raiders coach and returning favourite son Ricky Stuart, in praise of Wighton’s versatility, knows he’ll easily handle a halves spot as well. The NSW Under-18s star and 2010 Australian Schoolboys representative actually debuted for the Raiders back in 2012, but injured his toe so badly in a trampoline incident while playing with his younger cousins that he required surgery, and was forced to miss most of the season as a result.

NRL Players To Watch 2014

RYAN JAMES

The Gold Coast Titans’ Ryan James is the NRL’s Miley Cyrus – the 22-year-old “wrecking ball” stands at 194cm and plays at around 115kg. You can’t miss James – he’s the big, bearded bloke who knocks over other big blokes. The newly re-signed James has been around since 2010, when he made his first grade debut for the Titans, but clocked up just 21 games to 2012. He suffered a serious knee injury halfway through 2011, which also limited his games in ’12. All this meant that he really only “arrived” last season, playing in 22 NRL games, establishing himself in the Titans’ pack. Demoted by coach John Cartwright mid-last year after several below-par efforts, he responded in kind against the Bulldogs upon his return with 23 spirited hit-ups. It was no mean feat for a young bloke, especially against some of the meanest, toughest engine-room workers around in Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard and James Graham. Here’s hoping he returns from his current shoulder problems fast to make an impact for the Titans in 2014.