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The top 50 players in the NRL continues to be unveiled today with players 30 through 21 on the list.
Half the players in this group of ten didn’t feature at the start of the season, while one of the brightest young stars in the game flies through the rankings from the start of the season.
» Part 1 (50-41)
» Part 2 (40-31)
30. Adam Reynolds (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Rank at start of season: N/A
Reynolds may have been an oversight at the start of the season. South Sydney weren’t expected to go well, and maybe that had something to do with Reylonds’ omission, but the halfback had an outstanding season. His kicking game is one of the best in the competition and he showed that throughout 2018, controlling games for the cardinal and myrtle before stepping up with a famous three-field goal performance during the semi-finals.
29. Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)
Rank at start of season: N/A
Keary might not get all the plaudits received by his halves partner Cooper Cronk, but still had an outstanding season. He then proved exactly where his game is at during the grand final, stepping up to take a leading roll in the tri-colours’ premiership. Finished the season with 21 try assists.
28. Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Rank at start of season: N/A
If there was a most improved player in 2018, it might just be Sims. He might as well be known as the halfback hunter, such was his determination to put pressure on every kick and pass.
He drew criticism for the role, but someone needs to do it in any successful team. His defence was excellent and so was his attack with the second rower amassing 2500 metres and ten tries by season’s end.
27. Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Rank at start of season: 18
One of the most consistent performers in the league, you never realise Jackson is doing his job, but one look at the numbers will tell you that he is.
26. Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm)
Rank at start of season: 36
The Melbourne winger just continues to improve week in and week out. Finishing the season with 18 tries, he also had 98 tackle busts to his name and averaged almost 12 metres per run across the season.
25. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
Rank at start of season: 50
Cleary is one of the big movers from the start of the season, but still has plenty to work on in his game. While he was a big part of the Blues’ Origin success, he struggled a little for the Panthers when James Maloney wasn’t there during the second half of the season and needs to add more than kicking to the creativity stakes.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
24. Jack de Belin (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Rank at start of season: N/A
De Belin fully deserved his State of Origin start, having been the best of the Dragons’ forward pack which dominated throughout much of the season. De Belin ended 2018 with 39 offloads and 72 tackle busts, while also running and tackling hard. He proved very tough to stop for most of the season and bought into the Dragons’ aggressive culture.
23. Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)
Rank at start of season: 17
In the absence of Cooper Cronk, Munster stood up and delivered for the Melbourne Storm, leading the club for try assists. While he couldn’t get his side a second successive premiership, they finished at the pointy end of the ladder, and Munster’s running and kicking game was a key reason for that.
22. Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
Rank at start of season: 15
Fifita has the potential to be one of the best players in rugby league. Unfortunately, he still has too many off games. Add that to running sideways and putting in lazy efforts in defence, and it explains his slight drop from the start of the year.
When he does play well though, there are few better forwards.
21. David Fusitu’a (New Zealand Warriors)
Rank at start of season: N/A
Now this was an oversight. Fusitu’a had his best ever season, but in hindsight, should have been here before the season started. He has always had the potential to be damaging and showed that in 2018, scoring 23 tries from as many games and proving tough to stop every time he had the ball.
Check back in tomorrow for players 20-11.