SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 12: Nicho Hynes of the Indigenous All Stars is tackled during the match between the Men’s Indigenous All Stars and the Men’s Maori All Stars at CommBank Stadium on February 12, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Just like the teams they play for, every year players move forward, and some move backwards.
Whether it be their form, their ladder position, every season is a year of fluctuations. So while some players reach the end of the line or hit a rough form patch, others breakout and enjoy career-best years, catch the eyes of fans and coaches alike.
While some sides struggled, even the worst sides had players on the up, whether it be a rookie growing into themselves, or an established star reaching a new level, every club had a player that got better this season.
Brisbane Broncos
Patrick Carrigan
Normally, the first season back from an ACL tear is a slow one. You gradually warm back up into form and shed the fear of re-injury over time. Not Carrigan, he hit the ground running in 2022, not only making himself a pivotal member of their forward pack, but claiming the Wally Lewis medal in his maiden Origin series.
Set to debut for Australia at the World Cup in the coming weeks.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 13: Patrick Carrigan of the Maroons runs the ball during game three of the State of Origin Series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on July 13, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Canberra Raiders
Sebastian Kris
Before Round 1 kicked off, Kris seemed the odd-man out. Battling it out with Matt Timoko, Jarrod Croker, Harley Smith-Shields, Semi Valemi and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for a centre spot, Kris impressed as he managed 14 tries in 20 games this season.
Averaging a tick over 100 metres a game this season, Kris has rightfully earned his place in New Zealand’s World Cup squad, scoring a first-half hat-trick in the Kiwi’s warm-up match against Leeds.
WAGGA WAGGA, AUSTRALIA – MAY 08: Sebastian Kris of the Raiders runs with the ball during the round nine NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Newcastle Knights at , on May 08, 2021, in Wagga Wagga, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
Canterbury Bulldogs
Max King
Joining Canterbury as a recruit in 2022, there were little expectations on King’s shoulders, especially after departing the Melbourne system. Despite the doubts, King played more games in 2022 than he did in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 combined, featuring in every Canterbury game this season.
Averaged 102 metres, over 30 tackles and an offload each game to leave his mark on an otherwise lacklustre Bulldogs pack, and even snuck into the Prime Minister’s XIII side.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 03: Max King of the Bulldogs warms up prior to the round four NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Canterbury Bulldogs at AAMI Park on April 03, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Cronulla Sharks
Nicho Hynes
It feels like too obvious an answer, but who else?
The Cronulla halfback hadn’t even spent an entire season as a starting player, let alone with the No. 7 on his back, yet the former Storm premiership-winner shone in 2022 in everything Cronulla did, and is one of the key reasons the club finished the regular season in 2nd.
Now a Dally M medallist, it’s crazy to think Nicho has a lot more improvement left in him yet.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 19: Nicholas Hynes of the Sharks runs with the ball during the round two NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Parramatta Eels at PointsBet Stadium, on March 19, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Gold Coast Titans
Beau Fermor
Anyone tip Beau to be the Titans’ top try-scorer in 2022?
While some may have tipped a back-rower to take out that accolade, Fermor outshone David Fifita this year and established himself as one of the NRL’s best young second-rowers.
Included in the extended Queensland squad as well as a try-scoring debut for the Prime Ministers XIII, representative honours aren’t far off for this former Knight.
COFFS HARBOUR, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 18: Beau Fermor of the Titans watches on during the round 15 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Gold Coast Titans at , on June 18, 2022, in Coffs Harbour, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Manly Sea Eagles
Lachlan Croker
Arguably one of the more underrated players in our game, Croker seamlessly transitioned from ‘fill in until Manase Fainu returns’ to ‘Manly’s full-time hooker’ through a number of hard-nosed displays.
Croker has scored tries, kicked 40-20s, and averaged over 40 tackles a game this year. With Fainu now out of the picture, it’s Croker’s time to run riot.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 28: Lachlan Croker of the Sea Eagles celebrates scoring a try during the round 7 NRL match between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Canberra Raiders at Lottoland on April 28, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Melbourne Storm
Josh King
The former Newcastle Knight was very much a ‘meat and potatoes’ footballer during his time in the Hunter, he’ll take his hit-ups and make his tackles and that’s that.
Not under Craig Bellamy’s watch.
King started 16 of 25 games this year, featuring in every Storm match as he began the ideal image of consistency in a greener pasture, and looks set to become a key figure in the forward pack after losing both Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi to the Dolphins.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 12: Jahrome Hughes of the Storm celebrates scoring a try during the round one NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the Melbourne Storm at CommBank Stadium, on March 12, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Newcastle Knights
Dominic Young
The Knights winger made his NRL debut early last year, however the former Huddersfield Giants winger struggled with consistency, spending a lot of time moving between the NRL and the NSW Cup line-up.
Now, Young is set to be selected over Golden Boot winner Tom Makinson on England’s right wing, such is the impact his 2022 season has had. The dreadlock-donning outside back is as hard to tackle as he is to catch – the flyer ensuring there is some on a gloomy horizon in the Hunter.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 01: Dominic Young of the Knights warms up before the round four NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Newcastle Knights at PointsBet Stadium on April 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
New Zealand Warriors
Wayde Egan
The former Penrith Panther, hailing from Lithgow, has always plodded along and done his job for his team, no praise needed. If it wasn’t for the moustache, people mightn’t recognise the hooker walking down the street.
But 2022 helped Warriors fans recognise the hard work he does on-field.
Egan isn’t the star of the show but he is a vital cog, providing stability at the ruck, Egan is building towards a bright future at the club.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 18: Wayde Egan of the Warriors breaks through the Panthers defence before scoring a try during the round 18 NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium, on July 18, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
North Queensland Cowboys
Tom Dearden
Tom isn’t just the most improved Cowboy, he might be the most improved player in the NRL this season. That is the impact that Dearden has had on this North Queensland outfit.
Chad Townsend has been praised for his leadership, while the emergence of young trio Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson stole headlines, but it was Dearden that deserves his name in lights.
Discarded by the Broncos midway through last season, Dearden is now an incumbent Maroon and fell agonisingly short of a maiden Grand Final appearance.
TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 19: Tom Dearden of the Cowboys in action during the round two NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Canberra Raiders at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on March 19, 2022, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Parramatta Eels –
Dylan Brown
If Dearden is the most improved player in the competition, Dylan Brown is an extremely narrow second. The Kiwis five-eighth had just two try-assists in 2021, an abysmal effort for a starting No. 6 for a top side.
He equalled his 2021 try-assist tally by the end of Round 2 this season. The New Zealander is so nonchalant in his everyday life, however his attention to detail and fearlessness in attack is what left Brown borderline robbed of the Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 06: Dylan Brown of the Eels runs with the ball during the round 25 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Manly Sea Eagles at Bankwest Stadium on September 06, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Penrith Panthers
Dylan Edwards
It’s hard to find a worthy candidate in Penriths’ line-up because firstly, it rarely changes, and secondly, they’re all so good already.
Henceforth, it has to be Clive Churchill Medallist Dylan Edwards, right? The custodian is one of the most consistent players in the NRL, taking the fearless hit-ups and always in position, the fullback is so underrated.
Some fans questioned whether he was a Top Ten fullback last season despite winning the premiership, now people are blowing up that he missed Kangaroos selection. What a year can do.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 03: Dylan Edwards of the Panthers runs the ball during the 2021 NRL Grand Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on October 03, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tevita Tatola
The South Sydney Rabbitohs prop has gone from having to beat out Thomas Burgess and Mark Nicholls for a starting spot, to being arguably a top ten front-rower in the NRL today.
The Tongan forward had a multitude of 200+ metre games in 2022, crossing four times as well as making his fifth preliminary final in his fifth NRL season. Selected by Tonga for the World Cup, Tatola is a handful and a half for opposition sides.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Junior Tatola of the Rabbitohs is tackled during the NRL trial match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Penrith Panthers at Redfern Oval on February 23, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
St George Illawarra Dragons
Blake Lawrie
Apart from sitting next to Zac Lomax while the centre did his best Anthony Griffin impression on Fox Sports, Lawrie’s best work in 2022 was done on-field.
The front-rower emerged from the pack this season, going from a fringe first-grader to a regular starter, and enjoyed some monster games in the meantime. His performance midseason against South Sydney was a career-best, whilst finally crossing for his first NRL try.
It’s been a big year for Blake.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 11: Blake Lawrie of the Dragons takes on the defence during the round nine NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Suncorp Stadium on May 11, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Sydney Roosters
Joseph Manu
Joey Manu was already one of the best centres in the comp, how can he be most improved?’
Because people weren’t discussing Manu as the NRL’s best player last season.
Joey has shot up the rungs this season, especially when playing in the spine as he will for the Kiwis, dominating performances in a way we’ve never seen Manu do before. He was already close to if not the best centre in the game last season.
Both Ben Dobbin and Brian Fletcher has floated Manu as the NRL’s best over the past few weeks, and it’s not hard to see why.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 25: Latrell Mitchell of the Rabbitohs and Joseph Manu of the Roosters shakes hand after the round three NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters at Accor Stadium, on March 25, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Wests Tigers
Joe Ofahengaue
The former Bronco excelled at lock in a struggling side, laying the platform for Wests’ young forwards as well as picking up the club’s Player of the Year award.
The prop-turned-lock will be eager to hit the ground running next season alongside recruits Apisai Koroisau and Isaiah Papali’i, and turn the clubs wooden spoon fortunes around.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 25: Joe Ofahengaue of the Tigers passes the ball in the warm up ahead of the round three NRL match between the Wests Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium, on March 25, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Source:: ZeroTackle
