It’s the final countdown! With the 2023 season just around the corner, it means The Roar’s annual countdown of the Top 50 players in the NRL is back underway.
A quick recap on how it works: four of our NRL experts here at The Roar have put our heads together and listed our top 50 players each. Then, points were awarded based on how high they ranked on each expert’s list.
Said points were then tallied to give you our definitive top 50 for season 2023.
We have already listed players 50-41, players 40-31, players 30-21 and players 20-11. Now we have reached the top ten – the best of the best.
Who makes the cut… and who misses the list? Let’s find out. Who’s high, and who’s too low? Let us know in the comments below.
10. Harry Grant (Storm)
Easily the best all-round hooker in the game, and you can see why Wests Tigers fans did not want to give him back to Melbourne while he was on loan in 2020.
The 24-year-old is everything you want and more in your hooker. Whether it be for the Storm, Maroons or Australia, Grant is always causing havoc out of dummy half, quick to put someone through a gap or burrow through for a try himself.
In just five short seasons in the top grade, Grant is already well on his way to becoming a legend of the game.
9 Tom Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
No matter who you cheer for, all league fans missed this guy in 2022.
Turbo was close to untouchable in 2021, taking home the Dally M Player of the Year, Fullback of the Year, the Brad Fittler Medal as well as the Wally Lewis Medal.
He scored 28 tries – five were bundled into hat-tricks – along with 28 try assists. He averaged 208 running metres and 33 line breaks, and if it wasn’t for a season shoulder injury in Round 11 last season, who knows what could have been.
He has been a joy to watch at state and national level, and as long as he can stay healthy, will remain one of the premier fullbacks of this era.
(Photo by Getty Images)
8. Ben Hunt (Dragons)
One of the toughest men on the field, Hunt is a workhorse who just never gives up.
After nine seasons with the Broncos, the 32 year old veteran is heading into his 6th with the Dragons. Constantly being referred to as the player who carriers the team, the Red V captain is one of the most reliable and hardworking players in the NRL.
Hunt has made 14 appearances for Queensland, and was one of their best in 2022, breaking the hearts of all Blues fans when he locked up the series for the Maroons with his last-minute try. He played in every game for the Kangaroos during the recent World Cup and will be gearing up for another big year for the Dragons.
7. Nicho Hynes (Sharks)
No one has made an impact for their new club the way that Hynes did.
After three seasons with the Storm, the 26-yeard old moved to the Shire, put the number even on his back…..and the rest is history.
In 2022He had a hand in a whopping 26 try assists, second only to Mitch Moses for the year, and scored six of his own. He kicked the most field goals of the year with four and made the most tackles out of any halfback with 483. He made 320 kicks in play averaging 374 metres, as well as 34 offloads and 59 tackle busts and finished the year with 84 conversions.
But it wasn’t just about stats – he won the Dally M Player of the Year award with a record-breaking 38 points, and also took home Halfback of the Year.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
6. Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
The Penrith co-captain has been rising up the ranks over the last few years, with a close-to-faultless 2022.
His ability to create second-phase plays for his backs is unmatched, and his defensive efforts are never-ending.
He cemented his spot as a crucial member of the NSW Origin side and earned himself a Kangaroos jersey at the World Cup.
Yeo thoroughly deserved his Dally M Lock of the Year award the past three years running, along with his back-to-back premierships.
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5. Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
His sixth season at Redfern saw him honoured with the role of captain, and he just took it all in his stride and never skipped a beat.
Murray has built up a reputation as being one of the game’s most defensive and damaging ball-playing backs, and just seems to get better each year.
Head knocks were a concern for the 24-year-old in 2022 season, and he ended up playing fewer minutes than in the past few years. But the 2019 Dally M Lock of the Year still finished with 860 tackles, 44 tackle busts and 35 offloads, and will be raring to go in 2023.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
4. Cameron Munster (Storm)
This guy will go down as one of the greats. Superb vision, and even better kicking game, with backed up with solid defence.
Munster led the way for the number sixes in 2022, with 90 tackle breaks, 35 offloads as well 9 forced dropouts and averaged 127 running metres. He scored 11 tries with 16 assists, caused havoc with his kicking game, and drew players in like no one else.
He has played 15 games for Queenslanders, with one of his best performance in Game One last year and was massive once again for the Kangaroos.
Heading into his 10th season at the Storm, there aren’t too many like Munster.
3. Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs)
Love him or hate it, there is a lot of talent coming out of the Bunnies number one, and there is a reason the club did everything they could to lock him down until the end of 2027.
Able to create something out of nothing, he can inspire his teammates on a whim.
After four seasons with the Roosters, the man they call Trell-Mitt has spent the past three out at Redfern. His infulence on the side so great, there were question marks regarding whether Souths would even make the finals in 2022 while Mitchell was sidelined with injury. They looked like a different side once he returned and ended up one game shy of back-to-back grand finals.
Known for making headlines for the wrong reasons, many want to see him control his attitude. But Bunnies fans think he is perfect and wouldn’t have him any other way.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
2. James Tedesco (Roosters)
After six seasons at the Tigers, Teddy has cemented his spot as one of the greats since his move to Bondi in 2014.
Still one of the top players in any position, sometimes you would swear there were three of him out on the field. The Dally M Fullback of the Year just continues to be everywhere, in everything, and lead from the front while killing it out the back, in both attack and defence.
An Origin veteran. A Kangaroo champion. A premiership winner. Captain of club, state and county. Not much room left on the resume.
1. Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
And here ladies and gentleman, is your number one.
Heading into his eighth season in the NRL, Cleary has three grand final appearances along with two premierships under his belt, took home Dally M Halfback of the Year in 2020 and 2021, and was also the Clive Churchill Medal winner in 2021
Tough, always three steps ahead of everyone, and has one of the most lethal pinpoint kicking games in the league.
The NSW and Australian half back jerseys also both belong to him.
Not bad at all.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Hunt is great but is he as great as eighth? I’m glad we have him, but I have some doubts about his long term value. I hope my doubts are unfounded. He is our best, but in partnership with Griffin, as with Mary, the Saint Dragons have been uninspiring more often than not in attack and defence. A classy half back who is relied upon to make absolutely everything happen and goes at it like a bat-dragon out of hell won’t work no matter how much he puts into it. Another style of game plan is needed.
Adam
Roar Guru
He played 25 games last year and I would say that he is perhaps, beside Cleary, their most important player. Turbo might make more difference in the games he manages to be healthy for. But to me there's no point relying on the Porsche in the garage that is broken down when you have to get to work 5 days a week.
Rob
Guest
That’s why Inglis is a Qlder.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
When collectively, 96% of the NRL community prefer Panthers were not as successful, that will show itself out in words, one way or another. Would be unnatural for that, not to be. We aren't siege seekers. Penrith accept they are not an NRL fan favourite. What also needs a better understanding of, is that it would also be unnatural for players coming from the poorer parts of Western Sydney, forever slandered and denigrated by the rest of the country, to finally make it to the top, and not feel the need to beat the chest and say, yes, actually, this is where I am from.
Conelius
Guest
Latrell will never win a premiership without Keary
Conelius
Guest
You are correct Rob. The Roosters halves misfired last season until eight rounds out from the semis when Robo admitted his mistake and switched Keary and Walker back to their proper positions. Tedesco has lost his passing game. Keary and Walker need to man up and give Tedesco a blasting when he continually runs around hogging the ball and not passing to set up his team mates for opportunities to score tries. Since he was made captain his passing game is non existent and he tries to do everything himself. It’s a team sport Teddy not a Teddy show. Robo tell your captain to chime into the attack and pass the ball to the outside men.
jammel
Roar Rookie
The listings are harsh on JHughes/Haas/Wighton IMO
jammel
Roar Rookie
So - based on this listing - the best 17 in the World rn is something like (with a little flexibility): 1Teddy(c) 2JA-C 3Lattrell 4JManu 5Turbo 6Munster 7Cleary 8Tino 9BHunt 10Tapine 11CMurray 12Nanai 13Yeo 14NHynes 15Carrigan 16Taumololo 17Paulo
mushi
Roar Guru
Your Murray Yeoh view is acceptable but Murray is an amazing player. Part of the bench part is that he can fill multiple roles.
mushi
Roar Guru
I'm not sure what world I've stepped into where I'm ranking teddy below everyone else
mushi
Roar Guru
But if you put a healthy Edwards in Manly are they top 4?
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Maroons would be in for a hiding if that group made it to Origin season. Qlders, though, couldn't hate us nearly as much with Nico at #6. Just wouldn't be Origin.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
The Dubbo Dogs. Great club if greyhounds are your thing.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m sure it does…
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
he was 14 or 15 when arriving at penrith that qualifies him as a junior
The Barry
Roar Guru
Anyway, one captain is a Dubbo junior, the other is a Bulldogs pathways player…
The Barry
Roar Guru
I never said Cleary wasn’t born in Australia so I don’t really know what you’re on about. I doubt you do either. You just see a mention of panthers and go into cheerleading overdrive…
Redcap
Roar Guru
I certainly haven't forgotten that, GB. Souths took the unofficial title back from Newcastle later in the season and held it through to their actual premiership. Here's the list of unofficial premiers if you're interested - Newtown and Norths supporters might like it, Canberra supporters less so: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SlT4uCTSbdLAk4by4KMqRoFfDt-W0izz/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=114698333451261014237&rtpof=true&sd=true
Nat
Roar Guru
Been there, done that and lost.
Nat
Roar Guru
Yep. I don't know how you pick a #1 between 5 different positions in the top 10 and different ways to execute those roles in that mix. IMO, forget 1 - 10, they are just the best.