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
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
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
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
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
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
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
Tim Gore
Expert
Last season I watched him be an influential playmaker and leader for his side. I thought he was going too far playing last year. His performances proved me wrong.
Tim Gore
Expert
Jake played 6 games, two of which he went off injured in. He came on as a reserve in the GF. He didn't have the impact of a top 50 player in 2019. Tommy played twelve club games (coming off injured twice) and two Origins. He had a huge impact on the games he played in.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Maybe we'll have to try to wrangle a 2021 version instead
The Barry
Roar Guru
The Roar’s 2020 version of ‘12 Angry Men’...
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
Well now I regret not doing it this way... and filming it all.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I've been hearing for a year that you can't have players charged with serious offences running on to the field in the NRL. Just like all the other occupations who stand employees down , we've been told it doesn't work having charged employees in the workplace whether they are guilty or not. Didn't matter a bit said Todd that Dylan Walker was found not guilty and the mighty No Fault thing was working as well as they had hoped. The sponsors in particular but also the fans aren't going to tolerate players charged with serious offences running on to the field and being exposed on TV to millions of viewers.. That leads me to the case of one Curtis Scott. Greenberg labelled the charges against him as extremely serious but remarkably has given him the green light to wander down the red carpet on to the field and on to the TV. If Scotts appearance on the field doesn't lead to untold horrors and sponsors and crowds don't flee in horror, maybe they could use him as an example of how it is possible to have player charged with extremely serious crimes to play the game before their court case? Funnily enough unlike previous years when clubs were hounded by the masses to stand players like Brett Stewart down , once the NRL gives the green light it sort of takes the heat out of it. I've heard no major harassment of the Raiders to take action either. Might be a radical new idea, let players play until the day they are found guilty of something ,and then deal out the full punishment or otherwise. Seems to be working well with Curtis Scott does it not?
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
So was Trebojavich and he still made it o the top 50
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Marshall should have retired years ago he's over the hill
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
He won't achieve it at the Sharks sorry to say cause i think he has the ability to be in top 10 but not where he is now, his career has gone downhill since he's been there and will keep going that way.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
To me i think RTS is a bit overrated
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
RTS no where near as good as Tedesco
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Your right work rate sensational he’s a lot better than most of those named, it’s the same old thing with journalists they only look at the star players who do a couple of good things in a game but never the great toilers who give 110% for entire 80 mins rather than the flash in the pan 10 min players in a game who get all the accolades wish my Dragon’s him.
Ja ja klazo
Guest
Jake Friend is criminally underrated. His defensive role at easts is so crucial to robbos defensive system. Can't believe Scott would put McInnes at 13 and not even include him... Sure he has a bit of an injury plagued season but when Cronk got marched he came on and settled the team down and just plugged the middle. Its the unheralded story of the grand final - his unnoticeable but massive contribution. You don't win premierships without blokes like Jake in your team.
Ja ja klazo
Guest
You didn't even include the co-captain of the b2b premiership winners in your 60 mate...
Watda
Guest
Simply put Teddy’s defence in organisation and tenacity tops RTS atm.
Walter White
Guest
Yeah when did that happen ?
The Spectator
Roar Guru
Like brooks the next Joey Johns lol, who said that anyways ! Haha
Scott Pryde
Expert
Actually, I find it easier to do at the end of the season. I reckon this is a little all over the shop because you're trying to predict who will be the 50 most important in a way... Or that's how I look at it. At the end of the season, it's "here are the top 50 from the last 25 rounds."
souvalis
Roar Rookie
All of your options except Feldt (from memory) play left wing Fergos right..and he owns it, it’s no coincidence that Parra jump from the bottom of the birdcage to semis in one Fergo season..
McTavish
Roar Rookie
I feel he is one of those players a bit past his best and trading on past glory. If I was choosing wingers I would have Maumolo (reigning Dally M winger), JAC, Cotric, Sivo and maybe Feldt or Oates ahead of him. Technically Holmes is also still a winger if you go off the the time he spent there with the Sharks in 2018.