IMRAN GASHKORI | Sports Editor | Contact

As The National Rugby League enters the opening rounds of finals footy for 2018, many clubs are looking back at an unpredictable year that was.

A few early bursts of talent and a few semi-finals flops that no one saw. With that kind of inconsistency across the board, it is not hard to imagine why both the current contenders and this year’s bottom six are heavily-focused on what is to come.

And it all starts with this bloke.

Benny Benchwood, a 22-year-old product of the Sutherland Shire. Professional clubs are rushing to sign this “rough diamond” of the VB NSW CUP.

With a show-stopping ability to play almost anywhere in the back-row, Benny was discovered at sixteen by his family club, The Cronulla Sharks.

It has been common knowledge in the Sutherland Shire’s rugby league community that Benchwood has been strategically kept in the lower grades until he “matures a little bit”.

However, with a two-year-old daughter in Taree (the result of a footy trip romance) and another one on the way with his current girlfriend in Caringbah, Benny Benchwood has informed management that he is officially “anyone’s”.

“I always tried to be loyal to the Sharkies, brah. But you know… They’ve been making me wait too long,” says a disgruntled Benchwood, who is colloquially referred to as “The Cronulla Riot”.

“I’m a superstar and they know this. I have worked hard at this and the time has come for me to look outside of my hometown. Send me out west, brah. I’m anyone’s”

Penrith Panthers President and NRL Commentator Phil Gould to Triple M Brisbane about the Benny “The Fire from the Shire” Benchwood.

“Benchwood is an undeniable talent and I think it’s fair enough that he looks outside his hometown,” said Gould.

“But I’ll tell you one thing… There’s is no fucking chance Penrith will go near him. That kid is like a Raiders-Carney and Julian O’Neill rolled into one,”

“Maybe Canberra is the place for this kid, it’s seems to be a good launching pad for the lunatics of the game,”

Close friend and distant relative of Benny, local Cronulla identity, Sharryd Clayne has also spoken up about the future of the unsigned NRL superstar.

“Benny is untouchable, mate. If people don’t like how hard he parties, well they can get fucked. Benny is so talented that it doesn’t matter… Someone will sign him,”

“It’s a perfect example of those uppity snobs in the NRL not knowing what’s best. All that matters is this bloke can play footy. So what if he likes a couple lines every now and then, and so what if he’s got a few AVO’s out against him,”

“He is above the law in Cronulla and he should certainly be above the law in the NRL. It’s the National Rugby League not the Nation Role Model League,”

Mr Benchwood joins the list of next year’s much-hyped professional rugby league prospects, however many club executives have stated that his off-field behaviour will need to change if he wants to see consistent game time in the NRL.