This is the fifth instalment of 2020 in review. As is the tradition, now the Raiders' season is over, we are reviewing all 32 players who pulled on a green jersey this year. So far, we've looked at Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, Jarrod Croker and Curtis Scott.
In 2020, Nick Cotric probably had his best season since his rookie year of 2017 - when he was named Dally M Rookie of the Year and shared in the Fans' Choice Player of the Year award. He spent a lot of time at centre in 2019, but this year coach Ricky Stuart was firm in his belief that wing is Cotric's best position. And I think Stuart's assessment has been proven to be correct.
Cotric was one of only two Raiders players to appear in every match in 2020. He played every game in either the No. 5 or No. 2 jersey. He was officially switched late, to centre, for the Round 17 clash with the Roosters, but he actually played on the wing, with Jordan Rapana on his inside. He switched to the right edge, to partner Curtis Scott, at the start of the season. It was a combination that struggled, particularly in defence. He was moved back to the left for a few games in the middle of the season. But from Round 12, he stayed in the No. 5 jumper.
Cotric finished the season as the Raiders' top try scorer (14 tries, compared with just four in 2019 and a career best 16 in 2017). That put him back in the top 10 NRL players in the try scoring stakes (ranked eighth). In 2019, he ranked outside the top 20 players for tackle breaks (just over three per game) and outside the top 40 players for line breaks (10). He bounced back in both departments in 2020. He was second only to James Tedesco for tackle breaks, and back in the top 20 players for line breaks. His average running metres per game lifted (105, compared with 93 in 2019), though his metres per run fell (to eight, from nine in 2019).
As mentioned, he had some problems in defence, particularly early in the season. He was credited with 20 try causes (12 in 2019) - with only one NRL winger, Kyle Feldt, conceding more. He conceded twice as many tries - or more - than any other Raiders player. His tackle efficiency fell to 63 per cent (77 per cent in 2019). It is tough defending on the edges, and the problems in defence are often in field. But it is hard to avoid the conclusion that that wasn't up to scratch.
In my weekly Raiders player ratings, he finished equal fifth, with Elliot Whitehead, for total points, and averaged 6.3/10 per match. His season rating reflects his appearance record. My highest rating for Cotric was a "8", in the Round 2 win over the Warriors on the Gold Coast. He was also "man of the match" in Fans' Choice voting in that game, producing 10 runs for 165 metres, 21 kick return metres, 32 post contact metres, two line breaks, 17 tackle breaks and 100 per cent tackle efficiency. He also picked up a single Fans' Choice point in the Round 4 clash with the Knights.
Cotric has been selected in the NSW Blues Origin squad, but he did not make the team picked for the first match in Adelaide, with Daniel Tupou and Josh Addo-Carr preferred on the wings. The local Canberra junior, still aged just 21, has signed with the Canterbury Bulldogs for the next three seasons. It is a sad loss for the club, and the NRL salary cap arrangements simply should not be producing this sort of result. When local juniors are being poached this way, it is clear that the cap arrangements do not provide sufficient reward for development clubs. The Bulldogs reportedly have signed him for $600,000 a season and are planning to play him at centre. I personally think the Raiders have made the right call, not to match the Dogs' contract offer. I don't think Cotric plays his best football at centre... and $600,000 is overs for a winger. But if there's a club prepared to pay that, no one can begrudge a player taking the deal. I wish Cotric well with his new club, and hope that this year might not be the last we see of him in green.
How did you rate Nick Cotric's 2020? Tell us below.
Nick Cotric's 2020: 7.5/10
2020 Statistics: (Stats from Fox Sports Lab)
Games: 23
Average minutes: 79
Points: 56
Tries: 14
Try assists: 3
Try contributions: 0
Total try involvements: 17
Total kicks: 12
Kick metres: 172
Forced drop outs: 1
Total runs: 274
All run metres: 2405
Average metres per carry: 8
Average metres per game: 105
Tackle breaks: 124
Offloads: 3
Line breaks: 14
Line break assists: 0
Tackles: 67
Average tackles per game: 2
1 on 1 tackles: 14
Missed tackles: 28
Average missed tackles per game: 1
Ineffective tackles: 10
Tackle efficiency: 64 per cent
Try causes: 20
Errors: 14
Penalties conceded: 2
