50. Clint Gutherson (Dragons, 5 points)
After nine seasons as Parramatta’s heartbeat, Gutherson has opted for a sea change by joining St George Illawarra. Quickly installed as co-captain alongside Damien Cook, the 30-year-old fullback could prove an inspired signing by Dragons coach Shane Flanagan. “Gutho” is one of those competitors with a remarkable ability to pop up in the right place at the right time, whether scoring or saving tries. He was an inspirational leader during his days at the Eels and will be hoping to have a similar impact in his new surrounds as he enters the final phase of a decorated career.
49. Reuben Cotter (Cowboys, 6)
An absolute dog in the best possible way, Cotter has cemented himself as one of the game’s best middle forwards. While not the biggest player in terms of stature, the Cowboys workhorse makes up for it with hard-hitting defence and tireless hit-ups with the ball. Has developed into one of the leaders in Townsville and someone his teammates trust. A walk-up selection for both the Maroons and Kangaroos with plenty of football left ahead of him.
48. Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles, 7)
The heart and soul of Manly and one of the best defenders in the game today, as well as one of its most beloved figures off the field. Brings passion like few others and led the NSW Blues back from a game down to clinch last year’s State of Origin series. While his speed and impact with the ball isn’t what it once was, Trbojevic is a genuine leader who busts his backside for every second he is out in the middle.
47. Ben Hunt (Broncos, 7)
After seven largely frustrating – albeit lucrative – seasons at the Dragons, the 34-year-old hooker-halfback has returned for a final fling with Brisbane, his first club. With Ezra Mam is
serving his much-publicised suspension, he could prove an astute signing. Hunt could either slot in alongside fellow veteran Adam Reynolds to form the most experienced scrum-base pairing in NRL history. Alternatively, he could find himself at dummy-half, the position he plays so well for Queensland and Australia. Either way, he’ll do a fine job as he chases an elusive premiership victory to cap off an illustrious career.
46. Mitch Barnett (Warriors, 7)
Enjoyed a breakout 2024 season with the Warriors, earning a call-up for both NSW and Australia. Has made a seamless transition from the edge to the middle over the years and is now one of the game’s most consistent props, possessing an incredible motor and a sense of fearlessness that endears him to fans. The club has rewarded Barnett with the co-captaincy this year and it should take his game to another level.
45. Victor Radley (Roosters, 10)
One of the game’s great characters, Radley is already a two-time premiership winner and if not for his decision to pledge his international allegiance to England, would likely have earned a State of Origin debut during the past two years. With silky ball-playing, undeniable toughness and bone-rattling defence, the 26-year-old is one of the Roosters’ most important players. Radley spent time on the edge last year but should revert to the No.13 jersey. After the departure of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the onus will be on the local junior to set the tone for the Tricolours this year in the middle of the field.
44. Eli Katoa (Storm, 10)
Has looked destined for stardom ever since he burst onto the scene with the Warriors despite limited rugby league experience, but it took a move to Melbourne to truly unlock his potential. Katoa was absolutely lethal for the Storm last year, locking down a back-row spot and proving quite the try-scoring threat, crossing 12 times in 25 games. Will be entering the prime of his career over the next couple of years and is a constant headache for opposition defenders – especially when he can isolate one of the halves.
43. Sam Walker (Roosters, 11)
The true quality of the Roosters halfback was apparent in their two finals losses last year when he was absent due to injury. Still only in his early 20s and learning the No.7’s craft, Walker has fine-tuned his game to become an elite playmaker. His short kicking game is up there with the best in the NRL and his pass selection has improved out of sight. Can come up with pieces of individual brilliance out of nowhere, earning comparisons to the great Allan Langer. Walker will be a major loss for the Chooks in the first half of the year as he recovers from an ACL tear.
42. Moses Leota (Panthers, 13)
One half of Penrith’s bash brothers during their four straight premierships, Leota will be without his partner in crime, James Fisher-Harris, this season after the Kiwi’s move home to the Warriors. However, that might highlight just how much Leota actually brings to the table, often setting the tone with his back-fence and early-set carries for the Panthers. One of the most underrated players in the competition and can strike genuine fear into opposition.
41. Bradman Best (Knights, 14)
Ever since lighting up under-age competitions and debuting in first grade as a teenager, Best has been touted as a superstar in the making. Now, it looks like he has finally put it all together – and it should give Knights, and potentially NSW and Kangaroos, fans plenty to cheer about. With a ridiculous turn of foot, devastating power and more than a smidge of aggression, Best has cemented himself as one of the game’s best attacking centres and his defence will only improve the more he matures and learns the finer aspects of the position.
40. Api Koroisau (Wests Tigers, 17 points)
The diminutive hooker has been the most consistent Wests Tigers player since joining the club from Penrith in 2023. He missed out on NSW Blues selection in 2024 but is still up there with the classiest rakes of the competition. While going from the best team in the competition to the worst is a hard task, Koroisau has led the struggling Tigers through some tough times and may be about to enjoy some success as his former premiership teammate Jarome Luai arrives at Concord.
39. Lindsay Collins (Roosters, 18)
An old-school front-rower who puts his head where most wouldn’t put their feet. Collins has built a reputation as one of the toughest props in the NRL – and has also showcased some surprising talents in providing kick-chase and aerial contested options for the Roosters and Queensland. He was also a starting bookend for Australia’s Pacific Championships side in 2024.
38. Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs, 18)
It was a slow start to life as a Bulldog for Kikau in 2023 after he jumped ship from Penrith. But the barnstorming backrower returned to near his best in 2024 and scored five tries for the Bulldogs, before representing Fiji at the end of the year. Kikau will be key to Canterbury’s fortunes in 2025.
37. Matt Burton ( Bulldogs, 20)
Kikau’s Bulldogs teammate Burton is probably yet to realise his full potential in rugby league, and will no doubt be climbing higher on this list in the years to come. A tall, powerful and classy player who can cover multiple positions and has a towering left-foot bomb that terrorises opposition fullbacks. Missed Origin selection for the Blues in 2024 but made it into Australia’s team at the end of the season and played off the bench.
36. Cody Walker (Rabbitohs, 22)
In among all the bash and barge of rugby league, Walker continues to ply his trade as a ball-playing artisan of the highest quality. A late starter who did not debut in the NRL until 26, he is now 35 and still humming along like a vintage Rolls Royce. Nobody takes the ball deeper into the line or manipulates a defensive system more subtly. With the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Alex Johnston steaming onto his sweet passes, Souths’ evergreen sorcerer will be intent on re-establishing the Rabbitohs’ left edge as one of the most dangerous strike forces in the NRL.
35. Reece Robson (Cowboys, 23)
A softly spoken hooker built like a fridge and now considered one of the best dummy-halves in the NRL. Robson has quietly gone about his business for the Cowboys for several seasons and has only recently won recognition by those outside his club,
inking a four-year deal to join the Roosters from 2026. Now the starting NSW No.9 and is probably behind only Harry Grant in terms of Australian selection.
34. Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins, 23)
Despite being dropped last year with the Dolphins’ season on the line, the young playmaker is still held in incredibly high regard among the game’s smartest judges. Katoa has all the tools to become one of the NRL’s elite halfbacks and make the No.7 jumper his own at all levels of the game, while also possessing a level of poise rarely seen in players this early in their careers. Still only 20, the Dolphins are in safe hands for as long as Katoa is at the club.
33. Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm, 27)
One of the game’s most feared enforcers, front-rowers of Asofa-Solomona’s type are incredibly rare in the modern game. While many clubs have leaned towards smaller middle forwards due to the ever-increasing speed of the game, the 201cm Storm star is a towering figure who makes an impact in short bursts. His absence was keenly felt during Melbourne’s grand final loss against the Panthers and the only thing that lets Asofa-Solomona down from time to time is his discipline, spending plenty of time on the sidelines through suspension.
32. Joseph Tapine (Raiders, 41)
There’s a reason Canberra have made him captain this year. Tapine has continued to elevate his game over an extended period to become one of the most reliable big men in the competition. Last season, the front-rower finished just behind Addin Fonua-Blake for total run metres and total post-contact metres, placing him in the upper echelon across the league. Tapine has dominated the game at international level as well for New Zealand and still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
31. Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles, 46)
A force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball, Olakau’atu has gone from strength to strength for Manly in recent years to establish himself as perhaps the best edge forward in the competition. Possessing a hulking frame and unbelievable athleticism, the Tongan international has proved unstoppable for opposition defenders, while also producing his own fair share of genuine highlight reel big hits. Earned a spot in the NSW Blues squad last year and there’s reason to believe he will be a long-term State of Origin player given that he is only now entering the prime of his career.
30. Nicho Hynes (Sharks, 49 points)
He’s not just one of the NRL’s great role models, Nicho Hynes is also a hell of a player. He’s a Dally M winner, a NSW Origin and Kangaroos representative and, undoubtedly, Cronulla’s main man in their quest for a first premiership since 2016. The Sharks have featured in the play-offs in each of the three seasons since Hynes arrived in the Shire, without genuinely challenging for the title. The arrival of Addin Fonua-Blake could change that, and Hynes will be the man entrusted with converting the big prop’s go-forward into points on the board. Is this the year Nicho proves nice guys can finish first?
29. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans, 50)
The Gold Coast captain is a fierce and formidable opponent who relishes it when push comes to shove. As he has shown previously on the State of Origin battlefield, when big Tino enters beast mode he can be a destructive force. One of the first forwards picked for Queensland and the Kangaroos, he is still only 25 and presumably the best years of his career are ahead of him. Returning from a knee reconstruction that restricted him to just two games last season, he will be intent on making up for lost time, and his sheer size and physicality will be welcomed by both the Titans and Maroons – if not by opposition forwards.
28. Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins, 54)
The England centre has established himself as one of the best players in his position, with a superb all-round game that makes him integral to the Dolphins. An offloading machine, he triggers some of his team’s best attacking movements due to his refusal to die with the ball and is also one of the top tackle breakers in the competition. Will have a significant hand in ensuring Kristian Woolf’s first season with the Dolphins goes smoothly.
27. Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm, 62)
Has had one of the roughest injury runs of any player in the NRL over the last five years but the Storm No.1 showed once again how resilient he is by getting back to top form in 2024 after a fractured kneecap took him out for more than 12 months and then a fractured ankle finished his season in the 2023 finals series. Still just 26, the Storm star is back on a trajectory to being considered one of the best fullbacks in the game.
26. Zac Lomax (Eels, 87)
Regarded as an exceptional talent since debuting in the NRL in 2018, it took until last season for Lomax to realise his potential. Switched to wing by Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, he scored a career-best 14 tries in the season and proceeded to debut for NSW and the Kangaroos. The towering goalkicker has since signed with Parramatta and appears intent on returning to his preferred position, in the centres. But come Origin time, he is likely to be back on the flank for NSW, where he was such a weapon last year. Still only 25, he shapes as a key figure in Parramatta’s rebuild under new coach Jason Ryles.
25. Brian To’o (Panthers, 95)
A power-packed metre-eating machine, To’o has been a key reason behind the Panthers’ dominance over the past four years, with his carries at the beginning of sets putting his team on the front foot and allowing his forwards to rest. An excellent finisher at the other end, with 80 tries from his 117 NRL games, it’s no wonder he’s considered the game’s elite winger.
24. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins, 96)
Remember all the fuss about the Dolphins being unable to sign a marquee player for their inaugural NRL season? Well, apparently they did, it’s just that nobody realised. When the “Hammer” left North Queensland at the end of 2022, he had 50 top-grade games under his belt and was already renowned as one of the NRL’s elite speedsters. But he was a backline nomad with no settled role, often playing off the bench. Since then, he has improved exponentially, as evidenced by his hat-trick in Origin I last year and selection in the Kangaroos squad for the Pacific Championships. Still only 23, he is now a lethal weapon, but we haven’t seen the best of Tabuai-Fidow. He’ll be leaving defenders in his slipstream for many years to come, whether he’s playing fullback, centre or wing.
23. Tom Dearden (Cowboys, 106)
Now one of the leading playmakers in the competition, the Cowboys halfback has established himself as the man most likely to succeed Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland’s long-term halfback. At just 23, Dearden is arguably the Cowboys’ most important player and has already been capped four times by the Maroons and three times by the Kangaroos. Still at such a tender age for a halfback, Dearden has the chance to continue to move up this list and become a top-10 player in the competition.
22. Pat Carrigan (Broncos, 108)
Has become one of the leading middle forwards in the game and, alongside Payne Haas, is 50 per cent of arguably the most feared one-two punch in the NRL. Rated highly as a leader, Carrigan has the potential to be the next captain of the Maroons and is jockeying to inherit the Broncos armband once Adam Reynolds moves on. If Brisbane are to make good on their potential to win a premiership in Michael Maguire’s first year as coach, Carrigan will have played a key role in it.
21. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles, 121)
The Queensland captain at 35, Cherry-Evans is one of the NRL’s finest advertisements for longevity. The Manly playmaker is super consistent and routinely appears among the elite for game-breaking stats like try assists and 40/20s. He turns 36 before the Sea Eagles kick off their 2025 season but has vowed to continue to play at Origin level unless selectors intervene due to a loss of form. It would be brave to back against him.
20. Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla, 135 points)
Can one man transform the Sharks into genuine title contenders? That is apparently Cronulla’s hope after investing heavily to bring Addin Fonua-Blake back across the Tasman. Fonua-Blake has proven himself as one of the NRL’s premier metre-eaters, bulldozing his way through the centre of the park to put his team on the front foot. Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall and company should relish the go-forward he provides. The heavyweight prop also brings an intimidation factor. Nobody kicks sand in his face. The theory that the Sharks are “too soft” to win a premiership could soon be consigned to the wastepaper basket.
19. Cameron Murray (South Sydney, 137 points)
In an era when the NRL is rich in talented locks, it says all you need to know about Murray that whenever he’s available for rep duties he’s on the team sheet for both NSW and Australia. However, that will be little comfort to Wayne Bennett who is dealing with the shock of a fresh training injury that could be season-shaping for the Rabbitohs after
Murray injured his Achilles – a suspected rupture – weeks before season 2025 was due to kick off. Murray is superb on both sides of the ball, and was hugely influential again for the Rabbitohs in 2024 despite battling injuries that kept him off the park for a third of the season. His huge work rate is clear in his tackle numbers, averaging almost 39 per game in 2024 to make him the fourth most prolific tackler in the game, but he’s perhaps even more effective in attack, with his leg speed, ability to produce a quick play-the-ball and his link-up play at the heart of many of the Rabbitohs’ best try-scoring opportunities. Those traits will be hugely missed for as long as he’s off the park in 2025.
18. Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney, 141 points)
The enigmatic Rabbitoh’s quest for redemption will undoubtedly be a recurring narrative across the season. Nobody has ever questioned Latrell’s talent. He is box office. His attitude, however, has regularly attracted scrutiny, not least after the infamous “white substance” scandal last season that led to him being suspended by the NRL, as well as several controversial on-field incidents. All the indications are that Latrell was raring to go – until a hamstring injury this week derailed his pre-season. Still, there is no coach better equipped to keep him focused than Wayne Bennett. If Latrell plays to his potential, Souths will be right back in amongst it ... and the game’s greatest enigma could well be on top of this list next season.
17. Liam Martin (Penrith, 159 points)
There’s something old-school mad about the Temora tearaway. Just ask J’maine Hopgood after the Martin tackle that almost snapped him in half during Origin I last year. Not the biggest back-rower in the NRL, there is a semblance of Trevor Gillmeister and Steve Folkes in the way Martin launches at himself at opposition ball-carriers like a guided missile. But he’s not just a defensive weapon, he’s a dangerous hole-runner, as evidenced by his try in last year’s grand final triumph against Melbourne. There’s no reason to suggest the reigning Clive Churchill Medallist will be any less formidable in 2025.
16. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters, 164 points)
The hits keep coming for the superstar fullback after he was twice dumped by NSW last year then lost his place in the Kangaroos side, with new Blues coach Laurie Daley leaving him out of a pre-season camp in the most recent blow. But even if his representative career is over, the Roosters are still getting superb output from the 32-year-old, who was among the competition’s best No.1s in 2024, leading the NRL in line-break assists and tackle busts. He was also fourth for try assists, laying on 30 across the 2024 season, underlining his importance to an attack that will need every ounce of his creativity in 2025 with Sam Walker on the sidelines.
15. Reece Walsh (Brisbane, 174 points)
They say the game is a great leveller, and Reece Walsh was “levelled” in more ways than one last season. Firstly by the brutal Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii high shot in the Origin-series opener, and overall by generally failing to reach the same dizzying heights to which he ascended en route to the 2024 grand final. But Walsh is still only 22 and presumably his best football is still in front of him. Last year might be just part of his learning curve. This shapes as a season of redemption for the electrifying fullback. If he gets back to firing on all cylinders, the Broncos can transform from also-rans to genuine contenders within the space of 12 months.
14. James Fisher-Harris (NZ Warriors, 196 points)
Remember the days when props were big, fat blokes who waddled from one scrum to the next? Fisher-Harris exemplifies the evolution of the modern-day front-rower, now commonly known as “middle forwards”. Ripped and athletic, he plays the game with a frightening intensity, and his powerful charges and bruising defence underpinned the Panthers’ four premierships. Now he faces a new challenge with the Warriors. The New Zealand Test skipper shapes as a perfect like-for-like replacement after the departure of Addin Fonua-Blake, and he won’t be satisfied unless he can bring some Penrith-style success across the ditch.
13. Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters, 197 points)
What a comeback. This time last year Angus Crichton was running around in reserve grade for the Roosters, amid rumours he was about to jump ship to rugby union. Come season’s end, he had helped his club reach a preliminary final, won an Origin series and worn the green and gold during the Pacific Championships. All of which was enough to not only resurrect his reputation but clinch a lucrative contract renewal. The big back-rower’s experience will be invaluable as the Roosters rebuild after an exodus of long-serving stars. He’s got plenty more good years in him.
12. Cameron Munster (Melbourne, 201 points)
The highest compliment that can be paid to the Melbourne maverick is that, on his day, he can perform a passable impersonation of the “King” himself, Wally Lewis. Like the aristocratic Lewis, Munster is just a natural footballer who has proven himself time and again at the highest level - in grand finals, Origin and Test matches. The Storm held up their gloves last year while he was sidelined with a groin injury, which he managed to nurse through the finals. Melbourne need him back to full capacity if they are to improve on last year’s runner-up finish.
11. Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers, 208 points)
How good is Jarome Luai? We’re about to find out. It’s one matter riding shotgun outside the world’s best player in a four-time premiership team, another matter altogether trying to lift Wests Tigers out of the cellar, after three consecutive wooden spoons. “Romey” will no longer be playing second fiddle. He’ll be the main man for the Tigers, with the No.7 on his back, and what an inspired signing he could be, especially with a talented apprentice to mentor in Lachlan Galvin. If Luai’s trademark swagger can inspire his new teammates, the Tigers shape as the feelgood story of the season.
10. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury, 217 points)
He won three grand finals with Penrith, scoring vital tries in each of them, but it wasn’t until he arrived at Canterbury last season that people started to realise what a great player Stephen Crichton really is. An explosive attacking threat, he is also arguably the best defensive centre in the competition. But perhaps most importantly of all, his leadership gave the Bulldogs a whole new dimension last season, when they reached the finals for the first time in eight years. Watching his former teammates celebrate a fourth straight premiership will presumably only harden his resolve to bring the trophy back to Belmore.
9. Payne Haas (Brisbane 219 points)
If he’s not the most damaging prime mover in the NRL, he is surely in the grand final. The Broncos have had some truly great props over the years, in particular Glenn Lazarus, Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva. Haas compares favourably with any of them, and he is still only 25, which is when the big men up front traditionally start to come of age. Injuries restricted the NSW and Kangaroos bulldozer to only 14 games last season, which perhaps explains Brisbane’s dramatic fall from grace. If he’s back to full capacity, you can expect Payne to inflict plenty of suffering on his opponents in 2025.
8. Tom Trbojevic (Manly, 233 points)
Which storyline will it be for “Tommy Turbo” this year? The champion in rude health, back to his brilliant best and lifting Manly into premiership contention? Or the forlorn hero limping from one physio appointment to the next? There is no more influential player in the NRL than Trbojevic at his best. The form he showed in 2021 – when he scored 28 tries in 18 games to win the Dally M medal – was simply mind-boggling, and if he can return to that phenomenal level, anything appears possible for the Sea Eagles. With a good squad around him, this shapes as potentially Turbo’s best shot at a title. If, that is, he can stay on the park.
7. Mitchell Moses (Parramatta 233 points)
Despite spending the majority of his career in the shadow of the omnipotent Nathan Cleary, Moses finished last season as the incumbent NSW and Kangaroos halfback – helping both teams win the silverware they were chasing. Does he retain those jobs if Cleary is fit and available for selection? Probably not, but at least Moses has proven himself a game-winner at representative level. Indeed, there is even a case to say he could play alongside Cleary in the halves in rep teams. Faces a new challenge in 2025, leading a rebuilding Parramatta outfit after the departure of former skipper Clint Gutherson. Moses shapes as the linchpin for the Eels as they launch a new era under rookie coach Jason Ryles.
6. Isaah Yeo (Penrith, 257 points)
What a year 2024 was for Penrith’s ultra-reliable co-captain. The towering lock not only helped lead the Panthers to a fourth straight premiership, he starred in NSW’s Origin series win and then skippered the Kangaroos to victory in the Pacific Championships, winning the Golden Boot as the IRB’s player of the year in the process. A workhorse with a rare ability to distribute the ball as first receiver, Yeo’s greatest asset is his consistency. He rarely makes a mistake, let alone hands in a sub-par game. The Panthers have built a dynasty around him. It might continue for a while yet, too.
5. Dylan Edwards (Penrith 264 points)
In an era of outstanding fullbacks, Edwards has entrenched himself as the gun No.1. Or should that be the No.1 gun? Whatever your preference, there is no denying the sheer class of the Penrith custodian, who has been a cornerstone of four consecutive premiership conquests. He also helped NSW win a State of Origin series last year at his first attempt, then starred for Australia in their Pacific Championships victory. Perhaps the best gauge of the elite level Edwards has reached is that the long-serving incumbent he replaced in the NSW and Australian teams, James Tedesco, had an 2024 outstanding season in his own right.
4. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle, 274 points)
Is there a more watchable player in the NRL? Newcastle’s talisman boasts a unique skill set and can unlock any defence with pace, footwork and sublime ball-playing nous. That’s been enough to earn him a huge bank balance and social media following, but clearly the 26-year-old is far from satisfied. As he enters his eighth season with Newcastle, the 2023 Dally M medallist still boasts only a single win in finals football. There is no such thing as a one-man team, but most would agree Ponga is the key if the Knights are any hope of challenging for a title. If he is fit and firing in the finals, Newcastle shape as a wildcard who will worry any opponent.
3. Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne 278 points)
Came of age last season and was rewarded with the Dally M medal. The New Zealand Test half has been a quality player for years and is finally getting the credit he deserves. With Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuzen, Hughes completes arguably the best spine in the business. Their presence ensures that Melbourne, minor premiers and runners-up last year, kick off 2025 as title favourites. If Hughes can reproduce last year’s heroics, the Storm will be there or thereabouts when the whips are cracking.
2. Harry Grant (Melbourne 293 points)
Inheriting the No.9 Storm jersey from Cameron Smith is surely the rugby league equivalent of batting after Bradman. It says plenty about Harry Grant that he has not only succeeded Smith as Melbourne’s dummy-half, but also in the Queensland and Australian Test teams, too. The 26-year-old has an amazing ability to sneak over for a try, and most weeks he chimes in with 40 or 50 tackles. Promoted to Storm skipper last season, he led them to a grand final defeat, and you can guarantee he will be hell-bent on going one better this year. He’ll be hoping to become the first Storm skipper to hold the premiership trophy aloft since Smith in 2020.
1. Nathan Cleary (Penrith, 354 points)
It’s not even really up for debate these days. After calling the shots in four consecutive grand final triumphs, Penrith maestro Nathan Cleary is widely acknowledged as the premier player in rugby league. Daylight second. The only question appears to be if he has yet reached his peak. At just 26, he could conceivably continue to become even better, although that would involve improving upon perfection. The champion half faces new challenges this season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction and the departure of his long-time partner Jarome Luai, but he still has enough quality around him to ensure the Panthers are again among the short-priced favourites for a fifth title. Only the brave (or foolhardy) would back against a player seemingly destined to join the game’s Immortals.
