The best of the best in this group, but one player stands out as the biggest star

It’s the final countdown! The 2023 season is just around the corner, they say the roar The annual countdown of the top 50 players in the NRL is on again.

A quick recap of how it works: four of our NRL experts here the roar put our heads together and listed our top 50 players. Then points were awarded based on how high they ranked on each expert’s list.

These points were then added together to give you our final top 50 for the 2023 season.

We’ve already listed Players 50-41, Players 40-31, Players 30-21, and Players 20-11. Now we’ve made the top ten – the best of the best.

Who makes the cut… and who misses the list? let’s find out Who is high and who is low? Let us know in the comments below.

10. Harry Grant (Storm)

By far the best all-around hooker in the game and you can see why Wests Tigers fans didn’t want to return him to Melbourne while he was on loan in 2020.

The 24 year old has everything you want and more in her hooker. Whether it’s for the Storm, the Maroons or Australia, Grant is always wreaking havoc from the dummy half, quickly getting someone through a gap or digging through for an attempt of his own.

In just five short seasons at the top grade, Grant is already well on his way to becoming a legend of the game.

9 Tom Trbojevic (sea eagle)

No matter who you’re cheering for, all league fans missed this guy in 2022.

Turbo was nearly untouchable in 2021, taking home the Dally M Player of the Year, Fullback of the Year, Brad Fittler Medal and Wally Lewis Medal.

He scored 28 tries – five were pooled into hat-tricks – as well as 28 assists. He averaged 208 yards and 33 line breaks and if it weren’t for a shoulder injury in Round 11 last season who knows what might have been.

He has been a pleasure to watch at state and national level and as long as he stays healthy he will remain one of the best full-backs of this era.

(Photo by Getty Images)

8. Ben Hunt (dragon)

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 entering his sixth season with the Dragons. Constantly referred to as the player who carries the team, the Red V captain is one of the most dependable and hard-working players in the NRL.

Hunt has played 14 games for Queensland and was one of their best in 2022. He broke the hearts of all blues fans when he ended the series with his last-minute try for the Maroons. He played in every game for the Kangaroos during the last World Cup and will be gearing up for another big year for the Dragons.

7. Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

Nobody has shaped his new club like Hynes.

After three seasons with The Storm, the 26-year-old moved to the Shire, even put the number on his back… and the rest is history.

In 2022, he was involved in a whopping 26 try-assists, the second most for the year behind Mitch Moses, and scored six goals of his own. He had the most field goals of the year with four kicks and made the most tackles from each halfback with 483. He made 320 in-game kicks averaging 374 yards, 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 risen through the ranks in recent years with a nearly flawless 2022.

His ability to create plays for his back in the second phase is unmatched, and his defensive efforts are never-ending.

He cemented his place as a crucial member of the NSW Origin squad and earned a Kangaroos jersey at the World Cup.

Yeo has fully deserved his Dally M Lock of the Year award for the past three years in a row along with his consecutive premierships.

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5. Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)

In his sixth season at Redfern, he was honored with the role of captain and he took it all in his stride, never missing a shot.

Murray has earned a reputation for being one of the most defensive and damaging ballers in the game and seems to be getting better every year.

Headbutts worried the 24-year-old in the 2022 season and he ended up playing fewer minutes than in previous years. But the 2019 Dally M Lock of the Year still finished with 860 tackles, 44 tackle busts and 35 offloads and will be struggling to start in 2023.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

4. Cameron Munster (Forward)

This guy will go down as one of the greats. Excellent vision and even better shooting play backed by a solid defense.

In 2022, Munster was the number six leader with 90 tackle breaks, 35 offloads and 9 forced misses and an average of 127 running meters. He hit 11 tries with 16 assists, caused havoc with his pedaling game, and attracted players like no other.

He has played 15 games for Queenslanders, with one of his best performances in Game One last year, and has been massive again for the Kangaroos.

Heading into his 10th season at the Storm, there aren’t too many like Munster.

3. Latrell Mitchell (Rabbit)

Love him or hate it, there’s a ton of talent to come from the number one Bunnies and there’s a reason the club have done everything they can to lock him up by the end of 2027.

Able to create something from nothing, he can inspire his teammates on a whim.

After four seasons with the Roosters, the man they call Trell-Mitt has spent the last three with Redfern. Such was his impact on the side that there were question marks over whether Souths would even reach the finals in 2022, while Mitchell was sidelined through injury. They looked like a different team upon his return, ending a game before back-to-back Grand Finals.

Known for making headlines for the wrong reasons, many want him to control his attitude. But Bunnies fans think it’s perfect and wouldn’t want it any other way.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

2. James Tedesco (Roosters)

After six seasons with the Tigers, Teddy has cemented his place as one of the all-time greats since joining Bondi in 2014.

Still one of the top players in every position, sometimes you’d swear he was a three on the field. The Dally M Fullback of the Year continues to be everywhere and in everything, leading from the front while knocking him out at the back, on both offense and defense.

An Origin veteran. A kangaroo champion. A Premiership winner. Club, state and district captain. There isn’t much space left in the resume.

1. Nathan Cleary (Panthers)

And here, ladies and gentlemen, is your number one.

Heading into his eighth season in the NRL, Cleary has three major finals appearances and two Premierships under his belt, was named Dally M’s Halfback of the Year in 2020 and 2021, and was also the 2021 Clive Churchill Medal winner

Tough as nails, always three steps ahead of everyone and one of the deadliest pedal games in the league.

He also owns the NSW and Australian half-back shirts.

Not that bad.

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