Pirate Galaxy » San Diego started five rookies and us

Sky Sports Phil Clarke has identified eight young players he thinks will have an impact in Super League this year... In a competition of over 300 players its pretty hard to pick out the stars of the upcoming season, but Ive selected a group who I think will entertain and excite us both this season, and for several more after it.Most of them were born on or around the time that Super League started and, as we enter our 21st season, this group are the ones set to light up 2016. Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Wildcats) Junior club: StanningleyHe was the star of the Million Pound Game and excited me every time he got the ball. His try-scoring record in 2015 was amazing, especially when you take into account that he played for a team at the bottom of the table.He scores the kind of tries that could well have him mentioned in Try of the Season talks in October.Jack Logan (Hull FC) Junior club: SkirlaughHis introduction to Super League hasnt been that pleasant or enjoyable. His debut at Wigan in 2014 wasnt a great experience but hes shown his resilience in 2015 and started to improve as each game passes.It doesnt surprise me that hes been given the No 4 jersey in the squad, hes arguably one of the most exciting centres around. I think hell eventually play for England if he can continue to improve in defence.Ryan Hampshire (Castleford Tigers) Junior club: Normanton KnightsHe played in 15 of Wigans games last year and was at one time being picked ahead of Matt Bowen, but that was as a full-back.The word on the street is that he wants to play in the half-backs and hopes to do that under Daryl Powell. Hes fast and he knows how to play rugby league. Hell add another attacking threat to the Tigers this season.Niall Evalds (Salford) Junior club: SiddalLearning how to be a Super League player at Salford isnt easy, but this young man seems to have worked a lot of it out for himself. He scored nine tries in the last 11 games of 2015 for Salford and has more speed than most of his rivals.Scott Taylor was the only team-mate to make more metres than him in 2015 and hes slowly starting to develop his passing to add another string to his bow.Jake Connor (Huddersfield) Junior club: SiddalIm not sure I know what his best position is yet, or if hes quite developed the self-discipline to maximise his talents, but he can do things on a field that very few others can.If he can focus his aggression in a positive way he could have a brilliant 10-year career in Super League.Theo Fages (St Helens) Junior club: CatalansJust like Niall Evalds, hes had to learn the hard way at whats looked like a dysfunctional set-up at Salford. He moved from France and has played over 60 games in the last 3 years - I wonder how many young English players could have moved to France at the same age and developed the way he has.Hes been able to watch and learn from Michael Dobson and Rangi Chase, and now has Sean Long as a mentor. After playing in one of the weaker teams for the last few years hes now at one of the strongest. It was a great long-term decision by the Saints to sign him and I think well be mentioning his name a lot in 2016.Dominic Manfredi (Wigan) Junior club: Leigh MinersLast year was a fairy-tale season. He began the year playing for Workington at Derwent Park and ended it playing for Wigan at Old Trafford. He averaged around a try a game in Super League in 2015 and could possibly be better than both Joe Burgess and Josh Charnley.Hes fit, fast, fearsome and fresh, and has a great chance of ending the year as a top-try scorer.Liam Sutcliffe (Leeds) Junior club: Hunslet WarriorsHis 2015 season ended with a knee injury in June and he had to watch as his team-mates lifted three trophies in quick succession. He already has almost 60 appearances as a Rhino and has proven that he can play well as either a full-back, stand-off or loose forward.Hes a better attacking threat than Kevin Sinfield, but can he defend and kick as well as the legend that he replaces? It would surprise me if he does not win the Man of Steel award in the next four or five years. Get Sky Sports Join us and watch the new Super League season live Also See: RL on Sky RL fixtures/results Follow @SkySportsRL Pundits Swell Bottle Canada . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Swell Bottle Sale Canada . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.swellbottlesaleclearance.com/ . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Swell Canada .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Swell Bottle Ombre Canada . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. The Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders face off twice a year and have done so in their 57 seasons together in first the American Football League and since 1970, the National Football League.The games are almost always entertaining, aggressively played and sometimes have extracurricular activity during the play and after the whistle. Its considered one of pro footballs most storied rivalries.That has not been the case over the last two decades, however. Both franchises have struggled for consistent winning and been unable to grab a Super Bowl victory.As the Chiefs (2-2) come off their bye week and head to Oakland for Sundays game against the Raiders (4-1), both teams are without losing records. Kickoff is 3:05 p.m. CDT at the Oakland Coliseum.The last time the teams did not sport at least one losing record before the game was 2010. The most recent case where both teams had a winning record going into one of their two games was in 2002.Oakland reached the Super Bowl after that 02 season, before losing to Tampa Bay in the title game. Thats also the last time the Raiders were 4-1.Coach Jack Del Rios team is on a three-game winning streak that hasnt always been pretty, but has the Raiders tied for the AFC West lead with Denver.I think we have a healthy perspective of what we want to look like and knowing that were not quite there, Del Rio said. There is a lot of work in front of us. I dont think anybody would disagree with that. A lot of things we must do better as we go forward. Were working hard at it.For coach Andy Reid and his Chiefs, theyve been sitting with the vile taste in their mouth of a 43-14 butt-whipping provided by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 2.No one involved in Kansas City has reached for a panic button given the clubs performance last season when they started 1-5, but then won 10 straight games to make the playoffs and picked up a first-round shutout of the Houston Texans.Reid has spent two weeks looking at his teams four-game performance, where inconsistency is the best description of their play. The Chiefs failed in all three phases of the game against Pittsburgh, so improvement is imperative across tthe board.ddddddddddddWeve got to coach better, weve got to play better, Reid said. We all have to do a better job against this team.Last season, the Chiefs swept the Raiders, winning by 14 points in Oakland and six points in Kansas City. Since arriving at Arrowhead Stadium, Reids record against the Raiders is 5-1 and including his time in Philadelphia, he has an overall 6-3 vs. Oakland.Where Reids record glitters is after a bye week. In 17 seasons with the Eagles and Chiefs, his teams are 15-2 post-bye. Reid has a regular-season career winning percentage of .592, but his teams in the week after bye have won at a .882 clip.Every year is different, Reid said. Its situational, who you play and where you play. I dont even look at that.The young Raiders have shown major growth this season when it comes to handling themselves in close games. Theyve won by one, seven, one and three points, after losing five games last season by six points or fewer.Its an impressive improvement from a team that against San Diego started five rookies and used a dozen first-year players in their victory.We wanted to take a step forward in terms of understanding how you flourish in those situations and make the winning plays, Del Rio said. The NFL is about close games and you have to play well in those critical moments in order to win.Raiders quarterback Derek Carr confirms that a lot of sweat has gone into establishing a winning mindset in the huddle.We work extremely hard and especially in those situations, Carr said. We spend a lot of time throwing routes, going over coverage, going over two-minute drills, end of game situations.You hang your hat on that. Weve done this before. Lets be confident when we take the field and go do it.One factor that should help the Chiefs is a bigger role for running back Jamaal Charles. Hes one year and five days removed from the torn ACL in his right knee and Reid said this week that baring any setbacks, his role should expand from the 10 plays and two carries he saw against Pittsburgh. ' ' '