THE Cronulla Sharks have only just begun their preparations for the 2021 NRL season, but already coach John Morris is excited to see what Bathurst's Will Kennedy will do.
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Kennedy forms part of a group of young, emerging talents who helped the Sharks qualify for a sixth consecutive finals campaign by finishing the regular 2020 season in eighth.
While injuries to more experienced players Matt Moylan and Josh Dugan gave the former St Pat's junior a chance at fullback, Kennedy went on to make the number one jumper his.
Though Kennedy still has aspects of his game to develop, he and the likes of Ronaldo Mulitalo and Blayke Brailey have Morris excited about what lies ahead in 2021.
"You get better every year and you get more aware of the players and the team and how the team is building," Morris told NRL.com.
"I've seen a real improvement in a lot of our youth that's come into the squad. I've debuted 11 rookies over the last two years.
"To see those guys really develop and now become first-year, second-year NRL players is a real joy that I get as coach.
"We managed to play finals footy for my first two years, which I think has been a good achievement. Both years we've obviously bowed out earlier than I'd like. We've been there at the right time of year, we've just got to show some improvement so we can go deeper."
After joining the Sharks' full-time squad in 2018 and making his NRL debut in 2019's sixth round, this season was a breakout one for Kennedy.
He played 17 games this year, including his first NRL final when the Sharks met the Raiders, scored three tries and set up 11 others.
In round 16's 28-12 win over the Cowboys, Kennedy covered 9.7 kilometres to jointly top the weekly tracker maximum distance list along with Dragon Zac Lomax.
That game also saw Kennedy produce more high-speed efforts - bursts of 20km/hr or more - than any other player in the competition with 42.
It's that sort of speed and endurance which is why Morris is excited to see the 23-year-old custodian further develop. It is why Kennedy was offered a contract extension for 2021.
"Will's commitment to his game, coupled with his outstanding character and talent makes him a perfect fit for our club," Morris said.
