Salford Red Devils are a side that is currently undergoing something of a rebuilding stage both on and off the field. With five signings coming in and eight leaving the club at the end of the 2017 season - including experienced half-back Michael Dobson and impressive back-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila - and with Marwan Koukash intent on selling his share of the club, the odds are perhaps stacked against the Red Devils to replicate their stunning pre-Super 8s form which brought about a fourth-placed finish in 2017.
However, Salford have made some potentially shrewd signings including Fijian prop Ben Nakubuwai as well as NRL unknown Jack Littlejohn.
Youth players do, however, make up a number of Salford's shirt numbers for 2018, with the likes of Kris Brining, Josh Wood and Daniel Murray likely to be integral for the Lancashire side this season. Yet one name in particular stands out amongst the youngsters.
Levy Nzoungou
Born in Brazzaville, Congo, Levy Nzoungou moved to Lancashire as a young child and quickly took an interest in Rugby League. As a youth player, Nzoungou was picked up by St Helens to join their academy programme. The promising young forward excelled as a prop forward in his time at the club, helping to steer the Saints' Under-19s to an unbeaten and title-winning season in 2016. However, the offer of a move Down Under to NRL giants Melbourne Storm was too good to turn down and he left St Helens and England at the end of 2016 after playing 16 academy games and 10 in the reserves, scoring six tries.
After establishing himself as a popular figure within the Saints' dressing room, a move to Australia could well have been the tonic for Nzoungou to kick on with his career. However, in June 2017, Nzoungou was plying his trade in another country - this time France - the country he represents on the international scene. For Toulouse, the towering forward played eight times, producing some great performances to help move Toulouse to within touching distance of the Championship top four.
At just 19 years of age, Nzoungou has had the life experience that most would not obtain during a lifetime; the French international has experienced the continents of Africa, Europe and Australasia and will surely be a much more mature person from doing so - a facet which will inevitably transcend onto the rugby field.
Though in the past Nzoungou has been questioned over his defensive attitude, his time at Melbourne quickly fixed this.
And, his leg speed and strength continues to improve as Nzoungou physically matures; in other words, Salford have a real hard-hitting, monstrous and enthusiastic forward on their books that has the potential to excite the Salford fans like few others in the side.
Read part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, and part six by following these links
