It’s a question every rugby league fan loves to debate: who’s the best player in the NRL? Yesterday, we counted down players 50-41 as ranked by The Roar’s experts.
Today we continue with players 40-31. And yes, there are some surprises in there!
40. Ryan James (Gold Coast Titans)
2018 was a stand-out season for Gold Coast captain Ryan James. He was consistently one of the Titans’ best players week in, week out and came close to securing a New South Wales Origin jersey.
What makes James such a good player is his reliability; he averaged 96 running metres and 37 tackles per game last year, an exceptional contribution.
I’m excited about the Titans in 2019 – they showed us what was possible last year and with players like Jai Arrow, Jarrod Wallace and Tyrone Peachey, this year could be the year they finally crack the top eight.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
39. James Graham (St George-Illawarra Dragons)
James Graham is one of the crankiest players in the NRL, but that’s one of the reasons he’s so respected. He’d run through a brick wall if it made the difference between winning and losing.
The Dragons had a successful start to 2018, winning 12 of their first 15 matches, and Graham and the rest of his forward pack was a big reason for this.
The Englishman may be getting on, but his leadership skills this year will be invaluable once again for the Dragons, who will be ready to rectify how last season ended.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
38. Andrew McCullough (Brisbane Broncos)
So many fans have forgotten about Andrew McCullough given his horror run with injury last year. I’m excited to see how he performs in 2019 under new coach Anthony Seibold. The former South Sydney boss revolutionised the Rabbitohs’ attack last season, and there’s every chance he’ll do the same for the Broncos.
McCullough made his Origin debut last year and will be looking to cement his spot in that Maroons side for years to come.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
37. Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Penrith Panthers)
Another player whose 2018 was heavily impacted by injury is Reagan Campbell-Gillard. As with the rest of the young Panthers, his best form is ahead of him given his strength, high work rate and agility.
If he can stay fit this year, Campbell-Gillard will push for a return to the Blues and Australian colours and help lead the Panthers to a top-eight finish.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
36. Josh Jackson (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Josh Jackson is a leader I have tremendous respect for. It’s no secret the Bulldogs had an exceptionally difficult 2019, but the team rallied and finished the season strongly – led by their captain. Despite being dropped from State of Origin, he still had a solid year and continued to be a tough, rugged defender who runs good lines and plays hard for 80 minutes.
His speed – or lack of it – may hamper the Bulldogs’ edge attack at times, but this is no surprise given he’s suited to playing in the middle. He’ll continue to lead by example in 2019.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
35. Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers)
Last year was the Wests Tigers’ best in seven and a big part of that was Luke Brooks and his breakout season. 2018 was the first time Brooks has played every game of the season, so no doubt he will benefit from that and a full pre-season on the back of it.
There were several key moments when Brooks proved he could perform in clutch moments, helping the Tigers secure a number of late victories. He was duly rewarded for his efforts by being named Dally M halfback of the year and the Tigers’ players’ player of the year.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
34. Matt Moylan (Cronulla Sharks)
Moylan took some time to settle into his new club last year, but by the end was combining effectively with new halves partner Chad Townsend, including a spectacular six-try assist game against the Knights.
Moylan is certainly an exciting player. He finished the season with 16 try assists and just as many line breaks and will no doubt look to better that in 2019.
catches the ball. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
33. Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)
Graham is another whose 2018 season was hampered by injury. He made only 18 appearances, no doubt a main reason why we see him so low in the list. Graham is an exceptional player – he can put in big hits on defence, run great edge lines and can even play like a half with a decent kicking game and surprisingly good ball-playing skills.
Given Graham’s season ended with an ACL injury, we’re unlikely to see him back on the field until Round 9 at the earliest, but I’m looking forward to seeing his combination with Matt Moylan and Ricky Leutele continue to improve, making that left edge a dangerous one for the Sharks.
(AAP Image/Craig Golding)
32. Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm)
Josh Addo-Carr is one of the fastest and most entertaining men in the NRL. He has now scored 41 tries in two seasons for the Storm after grabbing 18 last year, the fourth-most in the competition. But the stats don’t stop there – he also made 17 line breaks and over 3000 metres.
He also revelled in his first State of Origin series, crossing the line twice in three appearances. Under the tutelage of Craig Bellamy, expect Addo-Carr to continue to go from strength to strength. To be honest, I’m surprised he wasn’t higher on the list.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
31. Villiame Kikau (Penrith Panthers)
Villiame Kikau was one of my favourite players in 2018. His brute strength was on show week after week, and he had the fifth-highest post-contact metres in the NRL with 1315. Not only that, but he made 105 tackle breaks and offloaded 44 times.
What’s more incredible is that at the start of the year barely anyone knew who the Panthers second rower was – he wasn’t even playing 30 minutes per week.
The Roar’s top 50 NRL players (so far)
50. Elliott Whitehead
49. Dane Gagai
48. David Fusitu’a
47. Adam Reynolds
46. Blake Ferguson
45. Tyson Frizell
44. Tariq Sims
43. Cody Walker
42. James Roberts
41. Josh McGuire
40. Ryan James
39. James Graham
38. Andrew McCullough
37. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
36. Josh Jackson
35. Luke Brooks
34. Matt Moylan
33. Wade Graham
32. Josh Addo-Carr
31. Viliame Kikau
Check back in tomorrow as we reveal players 30-21…
Rob
Guest
I'm with you TB Josh Jackson is a seriously good back rower. Can't believe he wasn't one of the first blues selected.
Rob
Guest
I agree Ryan James is certainly one of the best front rowers in the comp IMO. If he was a Queenslander he would have played plenty of origin football by now.
buttery
Roar Rookie
You must be kidding with McCullough, there are better no.9's running around in the Qld Intrustsuper Cup, 2 of them played in the Grand Final last year.
Craig
Guest
McCullough at 38 is a joke. I could name 10 players at the broncos alone who I would want to keep ahead of him. He will be pushed by Turpin this year and in previous years the team was infinitely better when McCullough was off and Nikorima slotting in the hooking role.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
A few wins to start the season would make a nice change, none of the teams looks that easy to beat but get the defence going and we should be ok.
AE47
Roar Rookie
I wanna see the look on everyone’s faces when Dessie’s boys make em cry ????
peeeko
Roar Guru
Tyson Frizz, better than all of these. especially James Graham
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Lots of players look great for a season or so and then drift away a bit. Very few forwards for NSW seem to get better as their career progresses. The list is endless. I've been observing RCG for a while and after a boom start he started to go backwards pretty quickly. I noticed he started to turn sideways when hitting the defence which most of the top forwards don't do. Could be lack of confidence due to injuries but I feel his best days have already come and gone. Poor old James Graham is cranky , red and pretty pedestrian these days. Kikau is unreal and Wade Graham seems to be very highly rated by many but I can't quite get on the bus. I thought he had a great chance to show how good he was in SOO after the Sharks GF win but he was just average.
AE47
Roar Rookie
Even the experts make mistakes
souvalis
Roar Rookie
He’s 38 years old in August,but Gal,still racking up stats beyond what the backrowers on this page make,top 50 player for sure..Maguire Jackson,Frizell,Sims Wade G. are all B graders compared to him..but seemingly won’t be..
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Sims certainly had a better year than Jackson, and Frizell was solid, certainly did enough to play Origin. The fact that they both played Origin ahead of Jackson suggests otherwise. With the success of NSW I'd be surprised if they went with Jackson again, given his limited impact. Runs hard and tackles, that's about it. Doesn't seem to bend the line or have any ball playing ability. Like I originally stated, these lists are very much open for interpretation and debate
RedcliffeFan
Roar Rookie
Pity about the Moylan comments. Ricky Leutele is playing for Toronto this season - and for the next two after that. That's a bit sloppy.
Haradasun
Roar Rookie
Always hard to comment without seeing the full 50, but at a high level you would think say 10 halves should earn a spot in the top 50 (assuming each position gets some equal representation). Of the halves I'd expect to see cronk, dce, Cleary, Johnson, Munster, Morgan, Pearce's, Reynolds, widdopp, Maloney, leaving Milford Brooks, Walker, ash Taylor to all fight it out for one spot in the top 50. I think Adam Reynolds is underrated and has a great kicking game for the bunnies. Should def be higher. Would have preferred him in origin over Cleary last year.
Haradasun
Roar Rookie
Agree was about to type the same thing
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Not sure how Josh McGuire only gets in at 41 given that he’s a current and pretty safe selection for the Kangaroos.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Forgot about James Graham - No way would he be in my top 50 today.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah I’m far from sold on RCG. I don’t think he has a high work as suggested in this article at all. I think he’s got a lot of potential but don’t think he’s there yet. I think James Fisher Harris should be ahead of him.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Jackson was Dally M second rower if the year last year and in 2015. He has a NSW player of the series award and an origin man of the match award and has played in two grand finals and two tests. His statistical output regularly exceeds Frizell and Sims. Doesn’t prove much except it’s not a crazy left field idea to suggest Jackson is better than Friz or Sims.
Bonza
Guest
To be fair Titans made 8 only 3 years ago and will surely challenge again. Especially if Cartwright ready to go.
Nat
Roar Guru
For the 1st time in a while McCollough will be pushed at the Broncos. He's always been a quality performer but young Turpin is a live one. The back end of these lists are always a hot debate. Some make it in based on a few highlights over consistently good performances. Good to see Jackson get a mention. His work rate gets lost in the Dogs poor showings.