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At the start of the year, I put together my top 50 players ahead of season 2018. Now, I’m re-writing that list, this time looking back on 2018 to determine who the best players in rugby league are.
There are changes galore and 18 players from that original list have fallen by the wayside with the emergence of some brilliant new talent during the year. Without any further ado, let’s get on with it.
» Part 2 (40-31)
» Part 3 (30-21)
50. Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos)
Rank at start of season: 44
Boyd just scrapes onto the back-end of the list. He didn’t have the most amazing of seasons, but was still solid at the back for Brisbane. Finishing with 13 try assists is nothing to be laughed at.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
49. John Sutton (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Rank at start of season: N/A
Sutton was one crucial part of the Rabbitohs left edge which set tongues wagging and defensive lines scampering all season long.
The veteran second-rower hit what could be considered career-best form at 33 years of age and while the numbers aren’t amazing, watching him week in and week out, you could see the Bunnies’ left edge would have lacked something without him.
48. Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers)
Rank at start of season: N/A
Brooks finished second in the Dally M Medal and while I don’t agree with that, he has to make this list. His start and end to the season were outstanding and his kicking game was a key reason the Tigers were able to challenge for a place in the eight, even if they did fall just short.
47. Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
I had considered leaving Thurston off this list altogether. Leading a team to the bottom of the table isn’t a great look, but the man who is sure to one day become an Immortal still had a solid season on an individual level.
He ended it as the competition’s leader for try assists and if there was ever a player to have worked harder than Thurston to try and make things happen, I’m yet to hear of or see him.
Did he play on a year too long? Sure.
Does that mean he was awful all season? Absolutely not.
46. David Klemmer (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Rank at start of season: 37
The Bulldogs prop retains his spot. While Canterbury struggled all season long, Klemmer wasn’t at fault. He led from the front, was solid at representative level and there was never a real question of dropping him off the list. He led the Bulldogs by more than 500 running metres.
(AAP Image/Paul Miller)
45. Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)
Rank at start of season: 26
There is no question Graham struggled with injuries throughout the season and that partially explains his drop down the rankings.
His impact was felt on the Sharks heavily during the finals, but he was off his game at certain points this year. Still an important player, but not at the same level as he was leading into 2018.
44. Jamayne Isaako (Brisbane Broncos)
Rank at start of season: N/A
Isaako played every game for the Broncos in his debut season and excelled at everything he did. Whether it was flying high in defence, scoring tries on the edge, making tough metres out of his own end or stepping up to kick clutch goals, Isaako had a sensational year.
I first saw him playing for the New Zealand under-20s side a few years ago and earmarked him for big things. Expect the winger, who can also play fullback, to be much higher on this list next year as he continues to improve out of sight.
43. George Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Rank at start of season: N/A
The Burgess brothers’ play was one of the highlights of the season. George is the first of them to appear on this list on account of an outstanding season, running hard and managing to cut down on his errors.
42. Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders)
Rank at start of season: 24
Hodgson might have spent more than half the season out injured, but he proved exactly what Canberra were missing when he came back.
While he couldn’t inspire the side into the finals, that was through no fault of his own as the Green Machine continued to lose games left, right and centre when they should have won them.
(AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
41. Josh Mansour (Penrith Panthers)
Rank at start of season: 32
Mansour had eight tries from just 15 starts this year. It’s a serious loss for the Panthers when the winger doesn’t play, and for more than his scoring – he is one of the most dominant ball runners in the competition and gets sets off to a good start nine times out of ten.
Check back tomorrow as we run through players 40-31.