Editor
Opinion
James Tedesco is the best player in the NRL. It was no surprise to see the Roosters star crowned the competition’s best in our annual countdown of the top 50 players in the NRL.
But now we’ve revealed the business end of the list, it’s time to dive deeper into how everyone voted, who just missed out on the 50, and how each club and position fared.
First, though, a quick refresher of how this all worked. Five NRL experts – Mary Konstantopoulos, Scott Pryde, AJ Mithen, Joe Frost and Tim Gore – all picked their top 60 players in the NRL, in order. Points were given depending on where a player was picked on each of those lists; 60 for first place, 59 for second, all the way down to a single point for coming in at 60th.
Those points were then tallied up for each player to give us the final list you’ve seen this last week.
To start, let’s look at how each club rated.
Every club had at least one player make it into the top 50. Every club, that is – and it hurts to write these words as a fan of them – except for the Tigers.
It’s not until 58th place that we find a Wests player with new signing (and self-proclaimed best centre in the league) Joey Leilua, who finished some 18 points behind 50th-placed Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
The Bulldogs (Josh Jackson), Titans (Jai Arrow) and Warriors (Roger Tuivasa-Sheck) all had just a single representative, while at the other end of the spectrum it was the Roosters, Melbourne (both six), Rabbitohs and Raiders (both five) dominating, making up almost half of the top 50 between them.
The top 50 by club
Roosters: 6
Storm: 6
Rabbitohs: 5
Raiders: 5
Cowboys: 4
Sea Eagles: 4
Broncos: 3
Dragons: 3
Eels: 3
Knights: 3
Sharks: 3
Panthers: 2
Bulldogs: 1
Titans: 1
Warriors: 1
Tigers: 0
As for positions, it was the props who were best represented in the top 50, with ten front-row forwards making the cut. However, while a fifth of the total players were props, none made the top ten, with Josh Papalii at 13 the highest finisher.
Fullbacks were next with eight, followed by second-rowers and halfbacks (both seven).
It’s clear, though, that our panel don’t have too much time for wingers and centres, with only two players from each of those two positions picked (and that’s being kind to centres, too – we’ve listed Latrell Mitchell there given that’s where he played his footy last year, but he’s expected to wear the no.1 jersey this year).
The top 50 by position
Prop: 10
Fullback: 8
Second-rower: 7
Halfback: 7
Lock: 6
Five-eighth: 4
Hooker: 4
Centre: 2
Winger: 2
If we’re to take the top (or top two) players from each position, we’re left with what is a quite formidable dream team – although only half of the top ten made it due to the presence of three fullbacks and hookers, and two locks and five-eighths there.
Nonetheless, this is still a team which wouldn’t lose too many games – if any.
The Roar’s NRL dream team
1. James Tedesco
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. Latrell Mitchell
4. Joseph Manu
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Josh Papalii
9. Cameron Smith
10. David Klemmer
11. Wade Graham
12. Boyd Cordner
13. Jason Taumalolo
Finally, it’s time to have a look at the entire list of players who received votes, and how each of our experts cast their votes.
You can sort the below table by the final finishing order, each of our experts’ lists, player name, club, position, last year’s rank, and how far a player has moved since last year (fans of Angus Crichton, Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford, Matt Moylan and Shaun Johnson would be best to avoid that, though).
You can also search for a specific player by last name by using the “Add Filter” option.
Player | Club | Position | Last year | Movement | Score | Mary | Scott | Tim | AJ | Joe | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | J Tedesco | Roosters | Fullback | 01 | 0 | 300 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
02 | C Smith | Storm | Hooker | 04 | 02 | 288 | 02 | 04 | 02 | 06 | 03 |
03 | J Taumalolo | Cowboys | Lock | 02 | -01 | 278 | 05 | 05 | 13 | 02 | 02 |
04 | C Munster | Storm | Five-eighth | 10 | 06 | 267 | 07 | 08 | 06 | 09 | 08 |
05 | J Trbojevic | Sea Eagles | Lock | 12 | 07 | 258 | 09 | 14 | 12 | 05 | 07 |
06 | R Tuivasa-Sheck | Warriors | Fullback | 14 | 08 | 258 | 17 | 06 | 07 | 11 | 06 |
07 | T Trbojevic | Sea Eagles | Fullback | 18 | 11 | 256 | 04 | 07 | 14 | 14 | 10 |
08 | J Hodgson | Raiders | Hooker | 17 | 09 | 252 | 29 | 03 | 05 | 03 | 13 |
09 | D Cook | Rabbitohs | Hooker | 07 | -02 | 252 | 03 | 09 | 19 | 18 | 04 |
10 | L Keary | Roosters | Five-eighth/halfback | 28 | 18 | 251 | 19 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 26 |
11 | D Cherry-Evans | Sea Eagles | Halfback | 22 | 11 | 235 | 31 | 10 | 04 | 08 | 17 |
12 | W Graham | Sharks | Second-rower | 33 | 21 | 226 | 16 | 31 | 08 | 12 | 12 |
13 | J Papalii | Raiders | Prop | 63 | 50 | 225 | 21 | 16 | 11 | 07 | 25 |
14 | K Ponga | Knights | Fullback | 06 | -08 | 222 | 06 | 27 | 16 | 25 | 09 |
15 | B Cordner | Roosters | Second-rower | 15 | 0 | 215 | 08 | 23 | 23 | 31 | 05 |
16 | J Bateman | Raiders | Second-rower | N/A | N/A | 215 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 22 |
17 | J Wighton | Raiders | Five-eighth | N/A | N/A | 208 | 20 | 30 | 09 | 20 | 18 |
18 | C Murray | Rabbitohs | Lock | 76 | 58 | 200 | 45 | 11 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
19 | D Klemmer | Knights | Prop | 29 | 10 | 196 | 15 | 22 | 24 | 29 | 19 |
20 | L Mitchell | Rabbitohs | Centre/fullback | 05 | -15 | 193 | 10 | 21 | 32 | 35 | 14 |
21 | J Waerea-Hargreaves | Roosters | Prop | 79 | 58 | 174 | 33 | 28 | 28 | 15 | 27 |
22 | P Haas | Broncos | Prop | N/A | N/A | 163 | 12 | 15 | 43 | 28 | 44 |
23 | V Kikau | Panthers | Second-rower | 31 | 08 | 155 | 26 | 38 | 31 | 24 | 31 |
24 | M Moses | Eels | Halfback | N/A | N/A | 154 | 52 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 35 |
25 | S Taukeiaho | Roosters | Prop | 58 | 33 | 153 | 14 | 44 | – | 10 | 23 |
26 | M Taupau | Sea Eagles | Prop | 25 | -01 | 148 | 38 | 17 | 22 | 19 | – |
27 | C Gutherson | Eels | Fullback | 67 | 40 | 147 | 27 | 32 | 21 | 26 | 52 |
28 | C Nicoll-Klokstad | Raiders | Fullback | N/A | N/A | 145 | 42 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 43 |
29 | N Cleary | Panthers | Halfback | 13 | -16 | 139 | 48 | 58 | 10 | 30 | 20 |
30 | T Frizell | Dragons | Second-rower | 45 | 15 | 137 | 30 | 50 | 30 | 43 | 15 |
31 | D Finucane | Storm | Lock | 88 | 57 | 130 | 25 | 35 | 36 | 39 | 40 |
32 | D Fifita | Broncos | Second-rower | N/A | N/A | 120 | 39 | 25 | 37 | 47 | 37 |
33 | B Ferguson | Eels | Winger | 46 | 13 | 119 | 23 | 34 | 47 | 50 | 32 |
34 | M Pearce | Knights | Halfback | 26 | -08 | 112 | – | 53 | 35 | 33 | 11 |
35 | M Morgan | Cowboys | Halfback | 24 | -11 | 109 | – | 48 | 15 | 44 | 28 |
36 | J Manu | Roosters | Centre | 51 | 15 | 104 | 44 | – | 41 | 34 | 21 |
37 | J Arrow | Titans | Lock | 52 | 15 | 104 | 40 | 29 | 33 | 45 | 54 |
38 | J Addo-Carr | Storm | Winger | 32 | -06 | 101 | 13 | 33 | 52 | – | 45 |
39 | A Reynolds | Rabbitohs | Halfback | 47 | 08 | 096 | – | 36 | 34 | 17 | – |
40 | A Fifita | Sharks | Prop | 11 | -29 | 095 | – | 24 | 42 | 54 | 29 |
41 | C Walker | Rabbitohs | Five-eighth | 43 | 02 | 091 | 22 | 45 | 45 | 41 | – |
42 | J Jackson | Bulldogs | Second-rower | 36 | -06 | 086 | 46 | 49 | 29 | 49 | 46 |
43 | C McInnes | Dragons | Hooker | 85 | 42 | 084 | – | 13 | 49 | 42 | 56 |
44 | R Papenhuyzen | Storm | Fullback | N/A | N/A | 084 | 53 | – | 25 | 21 | – |
45 | P Vaughan | Dragons | Prop | 78 | 33 | 083 | 35 | 43 | 46 | 56 | 42 |
46 | V Holmes | Cowboys | Fullback/winger | N/A | N/A | 077 | – | 18 | – | 27 | – |
47 | T Pangai Jr | Broncos | Prop | 73 | 26 | 077 | 34 | 42 | – | – | 30 |
48 | C Townsend | Sharks | Halfback | N/A | N/A | 068 | – | 37 | 40 | 38 | – |
49 | J McGuire | Cowboys | Lock | 41 | -08 | 062 | – | 56 | 27 | 60 | 39 |
50 | N Asofa-Solomona | Storm | Prop | 100 | 50 | 058 | 32 | – | 57 | – | 36 |
51 | C Graham | Rabbitohs | Winger | 87 | 36 | 050 | 11 | – | – | – | – |
52 | K Bromwich | Storm | Second-rower | N/A | N/A | 050 | – | – | – | 48 | 24 |
53 | N Cotric | Raiders | Winger/centre | 83 | 30 | 045 | 24 | – | 55 | – | 59 |
54 | A Taylor | Titans | Halfback | 104 | 50 | 043 | 37 | – | 50 | 53 | – |
55 | J Bromwich | Storm | Prop | 23 | -32 | 042 | 28 | – | – | 52 | – |
56 | E Whitehead | Raiders | Second-rower | 50 | -06 | 042 | – | – | 44 | 36 | – |
57 | A Fonua-Blake | Sea Eagles | Prop | N/A | N/A | 041 | – | 20 | – | – | – |
58 | J Leilua | Tigers | Centre | 65 | 07 | 039 | – | – | – | 22 | – |
59 | D Watene-Zelezniak | Bulldogs | Fullback/winger | 77 | 18 | 037 | 59 | 60 | 48 | 40 | – |
60 | L Brooks | Tigers | Halfback | 35 | -25 | 036 | 58 | 39 | 54 | 57 | – |
61 | F Kaufusi | Storm | Second-rower | 90 | 29 | 035 | – | 54 | – | – | 33 |
62 | A Douehi | Tigers | Fullback | N/A | N/A | 033 | – | – | 38 | 51 | – |
63 | D Gagai | Rabbitohs | Centre | 49 | -14 | 027 | – | – | – | – | 34 |
64 | S Johnson | Sharks | Five-eighth | 19 | -45 | 026 | – | 55 | – | – | 41 |
65 | J Roberts | Rabbitohs | Centre | 42 | -23 | 025 | 36 | – | – | – | – |
66 | D Tupou | Roosters | Winger | N/A | N/A | 024 | 41 | – | – | – | 57 |
67 | C Oates | Broncos | Winger | 61 | -06 | 024 | – | – | – | 37 | – |
68 | M Mbye | Tigers | Centre/fullback | N/A | N/A | 023 | – | – | – | – | 38 |
69 | R Matterson | Eels | Second-rower | N/A | N/A | 023 | – | 46 | 53 | – | – |
70 | B Marshall | Tigers | Five-eighth | N/A | N/A | 022 | – | – | 39 | – | – |
71 | V Radley | Roosters | Lock | 56 | -15 | 022 | 43 | 57 | – | – | – |
72 | T Sims | Dragons | Second-rower | 44 | -28 | 022 | 47 | – | – | – | 53 |
73 | T Harris | Warriors | Second-rower | 59 | -14 | 021 | – | 40 | – | – | – |
74 | M Sivo | Eels | Winger | N/A | N/A | 021 | 51 | 52 | 60 | – | 60 |
75 | D Napa | Bulldogs | Prop | N/A | N/A | 020 | – | 41 | – | – | – |
76 | B Smith | Storm | Hooker/lock | N/A | N/A | 020 | – | – | – | 55 | 47 |
77 | J Croker | Raiders | Centre | 80 | 03 | 017 | 54 | – | 51 | – | – |
78 | AJ Brimson | Titans | Fullback | 62 | -16 | 015 | – | – | – | 46 | – |
79 | J Fisher-Harris | Panthers | Prop/lock | N/A | N/A | 014 | – | 47 | – | – | – |
80 | J Ofahengaue | Broncos | Prop | 97 | 17 | 014 | – | – | – | 59 | 49 |
81 | T Glasby | Knights | Lock | N/A | N/A | 013 | – | – | – | – | 48 |
82 | A Milford | Broncos | Five-eighth | 27 | -55 | 012 | 49 | – | – | – | – |
83 | K Maumalo | Warriors | Winger | N/A | N/A | 011 | – | – | – | – | 50 |
83 | M Moylan | Sharks | Fullback/five-eighth | 34 | -49 | 011 | 50 | – | – | – | – |
85 | D Saifiti | Knights | Prop | N/A | N/A | 010 | – | – | – | – | 51 |
85 | D Fusitu’a | Warriors | Winger | 48 | -37 | 010 | – | 51 | – | – | – |
87 | B Hunt | Dragons | Halfback | 30 | -57 | 010 | – | 59 | 56 | – | 58 |
88 | E Lowe | Rabbitohs | Second-rower | N/A | N/A | 006 | – | – | – | – | 55 |
88 | A Crichton | Roosters | Second-rower | 21 | -67 | 006 | 55 | – | – | – | – |
90 | R Mahoney | Eels | Hooker | N/A | N/A | 005 | 56 | – | – | – | – |
91 | B Xerri | Sharks | Centre | N/A | N/A | 004 | 57 | – | – | – | – |
92 | S Drinkwater | Cowboys | Fullback | N/A | N/A | 003 | – | – | – | 58 | – |
92 | M Aubusson | Roosters | Second-rower | N/A | N/A | 003 | – | – | 58 | – | – |
94 | T Peachey | Titans | Centre | 54 | -40 | 002 | – | – | 59 | – | – |
95 | R Garrick | Sea Eagles | Winger | N/A | N/A | 001 | 60 | – | – | – | – |
A big thanks to Tim, Mary, Scott, AJ and Joe for making this possible, and, of course, to everyone who read and commented over the past week.
Now, all that’s left is to do is enjoy the footy once it starts on Thursday.
Although in the meantime, you could always just re-read the top 50…
The best players in the NRL, 50-41
The best players in the NRL, 40-31
The best players in the NRL, 30-21
The best players in the NRL, 20-11
The best players in the NRL, 10-1