2020 in review - Tom Starling
Posted: November 11, 2020, 9:20 am
2020 in review - Tom Starling
This is the thirteenth 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, Curtis Scott, Nick Cotric, Bailey Simonsson, Semi Valemei, Michael Oldfield, Jack Wighton, George Williams, Josh Papalii and Josh Hodgson.
When Josh Hodgson suffered an ACL injury in the Round 9 clash with the Melbourne Storm, most commentators immediately ruled the Canberra Raiders out of contention for the 2020 season. However, the Green Machine confounded the critics, finishing just one win shy of another Grand Final. That was due in no small part to the substitute hooking duo of Siliva Havili and Tom Starling. For the most part, Ricky Stuart started matches with Havili in the No. 9 jersey - with the hooker/forward absorbing the big hits in the opening stages, before the 22 year old Tom Starling took over.
Starling stands at 170cms and weighs in at 82kgs, making him one of the smallest players in the NRL. But as the old adage goes, he plays well above his weight - and he uses his size to his advantage. He's nippy and quick out of dummy half, and often showed up the big forwards in the middle of the park. He takes decisions quickly, and gives crisp, clean service to the halves. In defence, he has great technique for getting in and under much bigger players, and dumping them on their backs.
Starling made just three first grade appearances in his first year with the Raiders in 2019. He was on a development contract last year. But he performed strongly with the Raiders' NSW Cup affiliate, Mounties, and earned promotion to the top 30 squad. He started his 2020 season in the Round 10 Grand Final re-match against the Roosters and went on to play in every remaining match of Canberra's season, including three finals matches. He started in five of his 14 appearances, with the remainder off the bench.
I rated him an average of 6.8/10 over the course of his season. His best rating - an "8" - came in the Round 20 win over the Sharks. He took "man of the match" honours in that game in Fans' Choice voting, posting one try, five runs for 108 metres, 51 kick return metres, three line breaks, three try assists, two line break assists, four tackle breaks, 48 tackles and 89 per cent tackle efficiency. The try he set up for Sam Williams, with a great break and perfect kick, was a gem.
Starling also picked up Fans' Choice points in the Round 10 win over the Roosters and the Round 16 win over the Bulldogs. He scored a double in that clash with the Dogs.
Despite the fact Starling appeared in only 60 per cent of the Raiders' matches - and averaged just over 50 minutes per match - he ranked third at the club for try assists and seventh for total try involvements. He was second to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for dummy half runs, and first for metres per run, amongst the regular first graders. In defence, he ranked equal third for tackles per match at the club, behind only Josh Hodgson and John Bateman. For a small player, his tackle efficiency was a very good 92 per cent, ranking sixth at the club. His average missed tackles per game was way down the list, at the club, and amongst NRL hookers. Starling is not a hooker who does a lot of kicking, but with George Williams and Jack Wighton in the team, he doesn't have to.
There is a lot to like about Tom Starling's game... and the way he stepped up this year was very impressive. The pace of his development was a real highlight of 2020 for me. On the eve of the finals, he was rewarded with a new two year deal, keeping him at the club to the end of 2022. One thing Ricky Stuart will be pondering over the off season will be how to take advantage of his talents once Josh Hodgson returns. Hodgson has been an 80 minute hooker for a while, and he's one of the best in the business. For mine, I think there has to be a role in the top 17 for Starling off the bench.
How did you rate Tom Starling's 2020? Tell us below.
Tom Starling's 2020: 6.5/10
2020 Statistics: (Stats from Fox Sports Lab)
Games: 14
Average minutes: 53
Points: 16
Tries: 4
Try assists: 5
Try contributions: 1
Total try involvements: 10
Total kicks: 8
Kick metres: 144
Average kicking metres per match: 10
Forced line drop outs: 0
Kicks dead: 0
Kick errors: 1
Total runs: 50
Dummy half runs: 40
All run metres: 547
Average metres per carry: 10
Average metres per game: 39
Tackle breaks: 21
Offloads: 5
Line breaks: 5
Line break assists: 4
Tackles: 452
Average tackles per game: 32
1 on 1 tackles: 20
Missed tackles: 15
Average missed tackles per game: 1
Ineffective tackles: 22
Tackle efficiency: 92 per cent
Try causes: 2
Line break causes: 5
Errors: 3
Penalties conceded: 2
This is the thirteenth 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, Curtis Scott, Nick Cotric, Bailey Simonsson, Semi Valemei, Michael Oldfield, Jack Wighton, George Williams, Josh Papalii and Josh Hodgson.
When Josh Hodgson suffered an ACL injury in the Round 9 clash with the Melbourne Storm, most commentators immediately ruled the Canberra Raiders out of contention for the 2020 season. However, the Green Machine confounded the critics, finishing just one win shy of another Grand Final. That was due in no small part to the substitute hooking duo of Siliva Havili and Tom Starling. For the most part, Ricky Stuart started matches with Havili in the No. 9 jersey - with the hooker/forward absorbing the big hits in the opening stages, before the 22 year old Tom Starling took over.
Starling stands at 170cms and weighs in at 82kgs, making him one of the smallest players in the NRL. But as the old adage goes, he plays well above his weight - and he uses his size to his advantage. He's nippy and quick out of dummy half, and often showed up the big forwards in the middle of the park. He takes decisions quickly, and gives crisp, clean service to the halves. In defence, he has great technique for getting in and under much bigger players, and dumping them on their backs.
Starling made just three first grade appearances in his first year with the Raiders in 2019. He was on a development contract last year. But he performed strongly with the Raiders' NSW Cup affiliate, Mounties, and earned promotion to the top 30 squad. He started his 2020 season in the Round 10 Grand Final re-match against the Roosters and went on to play in every remaining match of Canberra's season, including three finals matches. He started in five of his 14 appearances, with the remainder off the bench.
I rated him an average of 6.8/10 over the course of his season. His best rating - an "8" - came in the Round 20 win over the Sharks. He took "man of the match" honours in that game in Fans' Choice voting, posting one try, five runs for 108 metres, 51 kick return metres, three line breaks, three try assists, two line break assists, four tackle breaks, 48 tackles and 89 per cent tackle efficiency. The try he set up for Sam Williams, with a great break and perfect kick, was a gem.
Starling also picked up Fans' Choice points in the Round 10 win over the Roosters and the Round 16 win over the Bulldogs. He scored a double in that clash with the Dogs.
Despite the fact Starling appeared in only 60 per cent of the Raiders' matches - and averaged just over 50 minutes per match - he ranked third at the club for try assists and seventh for total try involvements. He was second to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for dummy half runs, and first for metres per run, amongst the regular first graders. In defence, he ranked equal third for tackles per match at the club, behind only Josh Hodgson and John Bateman. For a small player, his tackle efficiency was a very good 92 per cent, ranking sixth at the club. His average missed tackles per game was way down the list, at the club, and amongst NRL hookers. Starling is not a hooker who does a lot of kicking, but with George Williams and Jack Wighton in the team, he doesn't have to.
There is a lot to like about Tom Starling's game... and the way he stepped up this year was very impressive. The pace of his development was a real highlight of 2020 for me. On the eve of the finals, he was rewarded with a new two year deal, keeping him at the club to the end of 2022. One thing Ricky Stuart will be pondering over the off season will be how to take advantage of his talents once Josh Hodgson returns. Hodgson has been an 80 minute hooker for a while, and he's one of the best in the business. For mine, I think there has to be a role in the top 17 for Starling off the bench.
How did you rate Tom Starling's 2020? Tell us below.
Tom Starling's 2020: 6.5/10
2020 Statistics: (Stats from Fox Sports Lab)
Games: 14
Average minutes: 53
Points: 16
Tries: 4
Try assists: 5
Try contributions: 1
Total try involvements: 10
Total kicks: 8
Kick metres: 144
Average kicking metres per match: 10
Forced line drop outs: 0
Kicks dead: 0
Kick errors: 1
Total runs: 50
Dummy half runs: 40
All run metres: 547
Average metres per carry: 10
Average metres per game: 39
Tackle breaks: 21
Offloads: 5
Line breaks: 5
Line break assists: 4
Tackles: 452
Average tackles per game: 32
1 on 1 tackles: 20
Missed tackles: 15
Average missed tackles per game: 1
Ineffective tackles: 22
Tackle efficiency: 92 per cent
Try causes: 2
Line break causes: 5
Errors: 3
Penalties conceded: 2