It’s that time again. With the 2023 NRL 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, as well as players 30-21. Here are the next 10 as we finalise the countdown to the top 10.
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.
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(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
20. Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
Talent like this only comes around so often.
He was one of if not the best players at the Broncos, helping them soar up the ladder early on in 2022. He made 401 tackles during the 14 games he played, along with 20 offloads 16 tackle busts and averaged 150 running metres.
Carrigan made a phenomenal Origin debut where he took home the Wally Lewis Medal, and finished the year with a Kangaroos jersey.
A late suspension took away the chance at a perfect season for the 25-year-old, and coincidentally was the beginning of the end for the Broncos finals chances.
19. James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)
Known as the heart of the Panthers forward pack, JFH is an unstoppable force that any player would be happy to follow onto the battlefield.
Now entering his eighth season at the foot of the mountains, the wrecking ball was named Dally M Prop of the Year in 2020 and 2021.
It may have been a fraction quieter for the man mountain last year, but he still managed 585 tackles, 32 tackle busts and 15 offloads, along with 1309 post-contact metres.
Another Kiwi international who led the way in his five appearances at this year’s World Cup, Fish will remain a leading front-rower for years to come.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
18. Junior Paulo (Eels)
An absolute brick wall.
2022 was massive for the 29 year old, and Parramatta reaped the rewards. He made the third most running metres from the props on this list with 3164, with a huge 1253 post-contact metres. Along with 47 offloads – third in the entire comp – and 33 tackle busts, Paulo made it look easy to stop others but hard to be stopped himself.
Paulo was busy on the rep front as well. The ball-playing prop played in every game for Samoa at the World Cup, as well as all three for NSW in the Origin series.
17. Joseph Tapine (Raiders)
Even though it was his ninth season in the top grade, Tapine finally made his mark last year.
The Kiwi forward ran for 3763 metres – the most from any prop in 2022 – and made a monster 1596 post-contact metres. He also made 676 tackles, 74 tackle busts and 46 offloads, and was a huge reason for teh Raiders late surge into the finals.
The 28-year-old established himself as one of the most dominant forwards of the NRL, and deservedly took home the 2022 Dally M Prop of the Year award as well as the Mal Meninga award for the best player at Canberra.
Fast, strong and hard to tackle – everything you want in the front row.
16. Mitchell Moses (Eels)
One of the best halves in the game, it’s no wonder the Tigers and Eels went to war for his signature.
Last season was big for Moses, scoring seven tries with 28 assists, the most from any player in the NRL this year. He also made the most kicks in play with 364, averaging 430 metres, as well as finishing the year off with 51 tackle busts, nine offloads and was awarded Dally M Tackle of the Year.
After four seasons at Leichhardt, the 28-year-old is now preparing to head into his seventh with the Eels. Despite guiding Parramatta to the Grand Final in 2022, he still finds himself without a premiership ring.
15. Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs)
The Foxx is a try-scoring machine and holds the title of the fastest man in the game.
After six sensational seasons with the Storm, the points tally stalled for a while after joining the Bulldogs. But things are starting to ramp up again for the 27-year-old, finishing 2022 with 16 tries and six assists, along with a whopping 96 tackle breaks, 16 line breaks and nine offloads.
Many saw his omission from the NSW side as complete madness, and Addo-Carr showed the Origin selectors exactly what they overlooked by scoring 12 tires in his five matches wearing the green and gold at the World Cup.
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for RLWC)
14 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans)
All heart. While some of his teammates may be accused of having a bludge, no one could ever throw that accusation at the Titans skipper. He ran for over 160 metres in every game of 2022, made 54 tackle breaks 22 offloads and eight line breaks. He scored four ties with one assist and averaged over 30 tackles.
Fa’asuamaleaui showed his versatility by playing across the park for the Maroons during their 2022 series win. He represented Samoa in 2019, and made his Kangaroos debut at the recent World Cup.
His fourth season at the Titans saw him become the youngest captain ever for the club at just 21. He was also named as the back-to-back Titans Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
13. Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)
One of the most rampaging forwards in the NRL during his 13 years in the top grade, JT13 reminded us last season exactly why he is worth $10 million over 10 seasons.
After a slow 2021, everything once again fell into place for the three-time Dally M Lock of the Year, 2016 Dally M and RLPA player of the Year winner. He was back to enjoying his footy and playing out of his skin.
He proved once again how hard those tree trunk legs are to stop, making the most running metres out of any number 13 in 2022 with 3638 and 1626 post-contact metres. He also made 86 tackle busts, 21 offloads and . He continued his steam rolling ways for his beloved Tonga at the recent World Cup.
12. Daly Cherry-Evans
DCE is just one of those guys that you know will give it his all. The inspirational leader was once again at the forefront of a Maroons series win, and before Manly’s end-of-season collapse, he was one of the leading halves of the game.
Heading into his 13th season at Brookvale, the 2011 Dally M Rookie of the Year and 2014 Halfback of the Year is still all effort and class. While his club crumbled around him after the Pride jersey saga, the Manly skipper did his best to steady the ship.
He was also part of Australia’s World Cup winning campaign.
11. Joey Manu
You know it’s a super strong top 10 when the 2022 Dally M Centre of the Year misses the cut.
No matter what number you put on his back, Manu is just incredible. The 26-year-old averaged 141 running metres last season, secured 84 per cent tackle efficiency and was close to unstoppable with a huge 151 tackle busts – the most from any player in the competition.
He has the ability to make something out of nothing, scoring 11 tries and 12 assists during the regular season. He was also on fire for New Zealand at the World Cup, bagging another three tries and five assists.
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