Yesterday, I listed the best 10 number nines in the NRL in 2012. Next up is my list of the best props in the NRL. It can be argued that today’s lock plays like a third front rower, but for this top 10 I will only select players named at numbers 8 or 10, or off the bench.
Therefore, I must say sorry to guys like Paul Gallen or Chris Heighington.
10 Bryan Norrie (Storm). He gets the job done every week for his coach and club, yet people still bag him. His side is leading the comp. Knowing how important props are to a team’s success, he can’t be too bad of a player.
9 Jesse Bromwich (Storm). Without good props, your team doesn’t get into the position to score points. Bromwich along with Bryan Norrie are the quiet achievers in the Storm side. Should earn a call up to the Kiwis national side very soon.
8 Sam Kasiano (Bulldogs). Built like a brick you know what, he has great offload skills and is powerful runner. This kid is getting better with every game and now looks to have cemented his spot as a regular prop in Canterbury’s starting 13.
7 Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders). There is no doubt he has talent and just needs to string together regular games in a row to see his full potential. Each week he is improving and if he stays fit will cause some damage.
6 Trent Merrin (Dragons). His start to this season has been impressive, with over 140 meters per match and just over 30 tackles a game on average. But, even considering these impressive stats, he still can’t get a regular starting berth in the Dragons side.
5 Josh McGuire (Broncos). The first of three Broncos in my top 5, McGuire is pushing hard for a Queensland Origin berth and could be a bolter for the ANZAC Test. The only negative I can find is that I’d like to see him play more game time, but that’s up to the coach.
4 Petro Civoniceva (Broncos). This guy could play for another 10 years if his knees allow him to do so. He may not be the number 1 prop in the game anymore but he certainly puts a lot of the younger props to shame with his never-say-die attitude.
3 Luke Bailey (Titans). I really don’t understand why this bloke is not first picked in the Blues Origin side. For some unknown reason he is always overlooked and then called upon when the series is lost. He is maybe past his best but in my view he is still the best prop New South Wales has to offer, excluding Gallen.
2 Ben Hannant (Broncos). Hannant is next in a long list of great props to wear the Broncos jersey. His early form has been terrific and it has to be, with McGuire and Civoniceva fighting for the starting prop positions.
1 Matt Scott (Cowboys). Rated by many as the best prop in the world and I can’t argue. He gets through a bucket load of work, seemingly with no fuss. The only problem with him: he is another Queenslander.
So maybe you’re saying I have missed a few, but the 10 above have been the pick of the bunch for mine after six rounds in 2012. Special mention goes to James Tamou and Michael Weyman who could have been there too.
What do you think, Roarers? Have I got it right?
Phillip
Guest
Id like to see any of these guys run into Ben Matulino the biggest hitter in the nrl. his running game is getting better every game aswell
KSI
Guest
IF you're a NSWelshmen in QLD or VIC it seems you go unnoticed by NSW selectors.
GC Tiger
Guest
No Andrew Johns on your list WOW. Agree though Dave Shillington Top 5 definately. Me thinks the writer is a Broncos fan and a QLDer.
Todd Slater
Guest
Burgess was braining them all before he got injured. He'll be back in round 11 though. Nate Myles is also peaking at the right time for origin.
Shark67
Guest
Knights actually
Tommygun
Guest
Oath....
Andy
Guest
Sam Burgess would be in the top 6 if he did not play for Souths. Paul Gallen would be number 1 if he played prop more often. Petro Civoniceva is still one of the best props he just needs the ball more.Tim Grant would be in the top ten also if he was not injured.
Chop
Guest
No Tim Mannah, Aiden Tolman or James Graham in the list? I don't think Petero, SCott or Bailey have been that impressive this season. I'd also have Shillington in my top 10 as well even though he's missed a couple of games with injury.
mushi
Roar Guru
One thing I'd be very interested to see is the metres gained on the tackle after a hit up. Some guys attract more defenders and disrupt the line more but get fewer metres. Then the next ball runner gets the advantage on their stat line. We've seen plenty of guys look much better when working in tandem with a top rated prop.
Charles
Guest
Luke Bailey has been a very consistent prop for many years and will do the job if chosen for NSW We have done badly in the forwards so far, and he will go all day even if he was slower Michael Weyman would be my first choice he is playing well at the moment Anthony Watmough could easily fill in the front row he is made for it and has played Origin I like Paul Gallen out wider but he can also fill in front row NSW have too many good back rowers and not enough strong props
Shaamus
Guest
If Paul Gallen had of been moved to prop permanently then there is no doubt he would be at the top of the list and by mid-year there would be talk of being the number 1 prop in the game. His stats in those two games have outshone all the props so far. Just questions all these players whether they are doing enough on the field . Matt Scott is number 1 by a good length. In saying that the likes of Shillington, Hannant, Graham, Tamou are next in line behind Scott. While Graham is only new to the NRL his stats from the bench have been impressive when the dogs were on there winning run. It's no surprise that Shillington and Hannant are up there considering they are part of QLD's setup for the front row rotation that they have. Along with Civoncieva. Tamou has picked up strongly since Scott has been injured and I would have to say that he needs to be in NSW team for game 1. Sadly NSW aren't dominating this group of players and we will struggle in SOO again unless more perform consistently every week.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Bryan Norrie ? Adequate but that's about it. Good to see McGuire so high and Scott is number 1. Petero not any more
Rabby
Guest
Easy, pick any of the men in purple.
Big_Marn2000
Roar Pro
Tolman, Weyman and Graham?
Johnno
Guest
No dave shillington on your list wow.
Blazza
Guest
Love that you gave the 2 Storm props some recognition. Bromwich is a gun and should be in calculations for some rep footy. I would of had James Graham somewhere in there,Petro is way past it and Josh McGuire is top 3 IMO.
Dan
Guest
Josh McGuire is superstar in the making! Matt Scott is the best atm though. I'm a knights fan and surely no one can rap snowden, he is the slowest laziest prop I've seen, his defense is appalling and he's always offside I can't believe we paid 350k a year for him! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Gareth
Guest
There are a lot of guys who are hitting some good stats this year. Running for 100m a game should be the bare minimum - Civoniceva, Bromwich, Norrie, Hannant and Kasiano are falling short of that mark, some by a big margin. I understand that stats are only a general measure of performance, but front rowers are a pretty simple beast, and stats tell 90% of the story. So anyway, some thoughts: - I like Petero, but he shouldn't make this list by a long shot. If it were the best props of the last decade, yes. - No Dave Shillington? He's been running for 150m a game in a side with plenty of other quality front rowers to share the workload. - Ben Ross has been very good at the Sharks, stepping into the shoes of Snowden and Douglas admirably and only compares unfavourably to Paul Gallen (who averages 220m a game!) - Snowden is the Knights best by a long margin and probably deserves a mention - While I'd rate Matt Scott as the best in the game overall, I think James Tamou is actually outrating him on current form. - Tim Mannah had a shocker on the weekend, but would go close on his more consistent form - Speaking of Tims, when Tim Grant comes back from injury he has every chance to stake his claim at the head of the Panthers pack. He's had one stunning game when fit, and I have no doubt he can string a few of them together. If I had to name a list of my own, I'd have: 1. James Tamou 2. David Shillington 3. Matt Scott 4. Josh Maguire 5. Kade Snowden 6. Trent Merrin 7. Luke Bailey 8. Ben Ross 9. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs 10. Tim Mannah But I'd really like to see a similar list post State of Origin. A few of the NSW blokes in this list have been disappointing in their previous appearances.
B.A Sports
Petro is no longer in the top 10, maybe top 20, but not top 10.
jdubya
Guest
JWH should be in the top 10 if the list is on form. He has been dominant this year and improved his disclipne.