NRG Signs 3 Players, Completing Full Circle Return to Counter-Strike

NRG has made a comeback to the Counter-Strike scene with a newly built lineup consisting of three ex-EG players and two other experienced players from top North American CS rosters. The team’s objective is to reach the top of the North American scene and qualify for the Major. The team’s new roster includes Damian “daps” Steele, Justin “FaNg” Coakley, Vincent “Brehze” Cayonte, Jadan “HexT” Postma, and Josh “oSee” Ohm.

Three of the players, Brehze, daps, and oSee, previously played for NRG before moving to Evil Geniuses in 2019. The other two players, HexT and FaNg, have been part of top North American CS rosters over the past few years, including Complexity and Team Liquid. Daps has been brought back as an IGL for NRG after being dropped from NA rival Liquid on Nov. 20. It’s been over a year since daps was a consistent member of the starting five-man lineup, with his previous stint in Orgless finishing in April 2022.

NRG returns to NA Counter-Strike after a 4-year break

Brehze’s form declined during his final year at EG, leading to his eventual benching in June 2023. However, his return to the professional Counter-Strike scene has been building momentum for quite some time. The NA rifler has been grinding CS2’s Premier matchmaking and appears ready to return to competition. NRG seems to believe that Brehze is a crucial part of their Major qualification formula, as his dedication to CS2 hasn’t gone unnoticed.

NA, WE’RE SO BACK

WELCOME NRG CS2 pic.twitter.com/SCrYjIo5Jt

— NRG (@NRGgg) November 29, 2023

Former Liquid AWPer oSee’s time on the bench was also short-lived. America’s best sniper was dropped from the TL lineup the day after daps’ removal earlier this month. HexT has been grinding through the NA scene under the EG banner. But, with the org’s recent woes, the NA rifler became an easy target for any other roster trying to build a squad. As for FaNg, he’s been missing in action since being benched by Complexity in place of EliGE in June.

NRG’s new lineup has a mix of experienced players and fresh talent, with a shared goal of achieving Major qualification. The team’s success will depend on how well the players can work together and how quickly they can adapt to each other’s playstyles.

NRG’s return is good news for the North American scene as Complexity, Liquid, Nouns, and EG are the only orgs making investments in NA players. However, EG could be on the verge of abandoning esports after multiple employees were laid off earlier this month.