rhugh89
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
NRL.com are doing their annual list of the top 50 players in the NRL as chosen by their staff and writers
Part 1 is up which lists numbers 50-41
50. Lachlan Coote (2015 rank: N/A)
The premiership-winning fullback has not only been rock solid at the back for the Cowboys in recent years, he's also one of the game's most underrated playmakers - ranking in the league's top 10 for line-break assists and try assists.
49. Bryce Cartwright (2015 rank: N/A)
Already the NRL's most prolific offloader last year, Cartwright has developed into one of the game's most dangerous big men after making a smooth transition from the second row to five-eighth at Penrith this season.
Undoubtedly a NSW Origin player in the making, expect to see Cartwright climbing this list in the years to come.
48. Josh Mansour (2015 rank: N/A)
For years NRL Fantasy coaches have known Josh Mansour is one of the hardest man to stop in the NRL – now he's got the rep jerseys to back that up.
The NSW winger and one-time Kangaroo ranks third in the league for tackle breaks, third for line breaks and second for run metres and acts as both an elite finisher near the tryline and an extra forward when the Panthers are coming out of their own half.
47. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (2015 rank: 21)
The big Kiwi front-rower may have dropped down our rankings after a poor season from the Roosters but he remains one of the most destructive big men in the game.
46. Ben Hunt (2015 rank: 19)
By the standards he set last season, Ben Hunt has been below his best in 2016.
Regardless, a brilliant start to the campaign for the Broncos means he still leads the league for kick metres and ranks third in try assists behind Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, and at his best is one of the game's most complete halfbacks.
45. Matt Moylan (2015 rank: 27)
Such is Moylan's class that when he was handed the five-eighth role for NSW in State of Origin III, having never played there in a first-grade game, he handled the new gig as if he'd been preparing for the role his whole career.
The fullback ranks fourth for line-break assists in the NRL and sits in the top 10 for try assists.
44. Adam Reynolds (2015 rank: 36)
The new NSW halfback has had an injury-affected season but possesses one of the best kicking games in rugby league – both from the goal-kicking tee and in general play.
43. Josh Jackson (2015 rank: N/A)
He doesn't steal the limelight but there's a reason Josh Jackson plays the full 80 minutes in the NSW Blues pack – his fierce defensive game and rock-solid go-forward is readymade for Origin football.
Jackson forces more errors from tackles than any other NRL player and he's been one of the quiet achievers behind the Bulldogs' rise to the top four this season.
42. Issac Luke (2015 rank: 24)
The New Zealand hooker may have endured a rusty start to his Warriors career this season but he remains one of the game's most explosive rakes, leading the league for dummy-half runs yet again.
41. Tyson Frizell (2015 rank: N/A)
It took a little while for the one-time Wales international to get a run for the Blues but when he did he announced himself as a long-term Origin player, with a standout performance on debut including a try and an inspiring defensive chase on Dane Gagai.
A hard-running, big minute forward who has been arguably the Dragons' best in recent years.
40. Josh McGuire (2015 rank: N/A)
The Brisbane prop had already represented Queensland at Origin level and Samoa in the World Cup (at hooker of all places) but his rep career took a giant leap with selection for the Kangaroos in 2016.
One of the hardest-working big men in the game, McGuire has made more metres this season than any of his star-studded Broncos teammates.
39. Robbie Farah (2015 rank: 11)
Last season Robbie Farah was pushing for a place in NRL.com's top 10; this year he's fallen out of the Wests Tigers' first-grade 17.
Still, the NSW hooker remains one of the most dominant rakes in the game – a fact which didn't gel with Jason Taylor's gameplan at the Tigers.
Strong out of dummy-half and with a quality kicking game, Farah is also a tireless defender – no player played more minutes or made more tackles for the Blues in this year's State of Origin series.
38. Ben Barba (2015 rank: N/A)
After three underwhelming seasons, Ben Barba is back.
The Sharks fullback is coming off his best campaign since his Dally M-winning season in 2012 and while he hasn't quite matched the level of dominance he achieved that year the numbers prove he's again amongst the NRL's elite.
Barba ranks first in the league for try saves and sits in the NRL's top five for try assists and in the top 10 for tries and line breaks.
37. Trent Merrin (2015 rank: 46)
While young guns Bryce Cartwright, Matt Moylan and Nathan Cleary have grabbed the headlines this season it's a new face who has helped laid the foundation for the Panthers' 2016 revival.
Trent Merrin has been a rock in the middle of the park for Penrith, ranking seventh in the league for runs and run metres as well as sitting in the top 20 for tackles.
36. Brett Morris (2015 rank: 22)
Injury curtailed Morris's season but the seasoned campaigner remains a lethal player on the wing, instantly making an impact upon his return to the Bulldogs side with 10 tries in his first eight games back from injury.
35. James Tamou (2015 rank: N/A)
The departing Cowboys prop remains is a regular face in the Kangaroos and NSW sides and is a key part of North Queensland's fearsome forward pack, ranking among the top 25 metre-eaters in the league in 2016.
34. Wade Graham (2015 rank: N/A)
Graham finally received the State of Origin call-up many had been waiting for this year, and has been a crucial cog in the Sharks' rise up the table this season.
A Cronulla captain in the making, Graham does all the little things right and plays with the intensity needed to become a long-term Blues prospect.
33. Josh Dugan (2015 rank: 16)
The Dragons fullback hasn't enjoyed a great season at club level but remains a walk-up starter for his state and country, with a dangerous running game and the defensive ability to hold his own in the front line at centre.
Even in a quiet season at club level he's ranked third in the NRL for average metres gained in 2016.
32. Tohu Harris (2015 rank: N/A)
One of the big improvers in the rankings this season, Tohu Harris has stepped out of the shadow of his big-name Storm teammates with a super impressive season, both in the forward pack and when filling in at centre.
The New Zealand international has runs great attacking lines off Melbourne's playmakers, picking up eight tries this season, and among edge second-rowers he ranks first in the league for runs and second for support runs.
31. Josh Papalii (2015 rank: N/A)
One of the stars of Canberra's rise from erratic entertainers to genuine title contenders, Josh Papalii started in the second row for Australia against New Zealand in May and played in both Queensland's State of Origin wins this year.
One of the most destructive wide-running second-rowers – and hardest hitting defenders – in the league today.
30. Semi Radradra (2015 rank: 41)
Radradra hasn't dominated the NRL as he did in his breakout season last year – his 12 tries in 19 games doesn't compare with his outrageous tally of 24 from 18 games in 2015 – but the Semi Trailer remains one of the game's most effective wingers and is now an Australian Test player after representing the Kangaroos against New Zealand in May.
29. Jake Friend (2015 rank: 42)
Is Jake Friend the busiest player in rugby league? Not only has the Roosters skipper made a whopping 1279 tackles – 237 more than any other payer – but he's also had the most touches of the ball over anyone in the NRL in 2016.
The tireless Roosters skipper is still arguably underrated in league circles and is one of the fiercest competitors in the game.
28. James Maloney (New entry)
Maloney was always going to be a crucial signing for the Sharks but the impact he's made on the team has been immense, with the five-eighth helping turn what was once a no-frills Cronulla side into one of the best attacking outfits in the league.
He won his NSW jersey back along the way, and ranks second in the competition for points scored.
27. Michael Ennis (New entry)
"He's one of the best players I've ever coached," is how current Broncos and former Queensland and Australia coach Wayne Bennett described Ennis in July.
The veteran hooker may be hanging up his boots at the end of the season but he's going out on a high after helping guide the Sharks to within a win of the minor premiership.
Ennis's motor-mouth reputation has arguably distracted league followers from the fact he's one of the best No.9s in the business, with his ability to get under his opponents' skin matched by his workrate on both sides of the ball and knack for creating try-scoring chances for teammates.
26. Simon Mannering (2015 rank: 18)
Despite another disappointing season from the Warriors Mannering has shone yet again, ranking second in the NRL for tackles made in a team that needs a few more defenders like him.
One of the few players in the NRL to get through the full 80 minutes each week in the centre of the park at lock, Mannering continues to impress at club level despite giving up the Warriors captaincy this year.
25. Anthony Milford (2015 rank: 29)
Arguably the best player on the park in last year's NRL Grand Final, Milford exploded out of the blocks this season with eight tries in the opening seven rounds before a quiet middle part of the season as the Broncos' form wavered.
Has scored 13 tries and a league-high four field goals this season, and ranks sixth in the league for line-break assists.
On his day there are few more lethal players in rugby league.
24. Boyd Cordner (2015 rank: 48)
The Roosters' Jekyll-and-Hyde season proved how valuable Boyd Cordner is as a player. In the opening two months of the season the Tricolours struggled badly with Cordner (and teammates Mitch Pearce and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves) on the sidelines, but with the Test second-rower back to his best the Roosters thrived.
Between Round 21 and Round 24 Cordner scored three tries, made five line breaks and busted 19 attempted tackles as the Roosters beat title contenders the Broncos and Cowboys and thrashed the Dragons.
He's expected to regain his Kangaroos spot at the end of the year.
23. Daly Cherry-Evans (2015 rank: 10)
DCE slips down our rankings this year after failing to reignite the Sea Eagles as a finals force after signing a bumper new deal with the club.
He remains a standout player for Manly though – with 16 try assists in 19 games Cherry-Evans is the only player ranked in the top 10 for that stat whose team wasn't in finals contention.
22. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2015 rank: 15)
A rocky start to life as a Warrior got even rockier in Round 7 when Tuivasa-Sheck suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
That sees him drop seven places in our list but at top form the dazzling fullback is one of the best ball-runners in rugby league. Fingers crossed for Warriors fans, New Zealand supporters and neutrals alike that RTS is back to his best in 2017.
21. Michael Morgan (2015 rank: 33)
The Cowboys five-eighth has established himself as Queensland's super sub of choice – no small feat when the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Milford and Ben Barba are available – and has excelled once again at club level.
Despite playing alongside the most gifted playmaker in the game in Johnathan Thurston, Morgan has still been a key attacking weapon himself in 2016 and is ranked 12th in the league for try assists, 15th for line-break assists and 15th in support runs.
20. Jarryd Hayne (New entry)
Before his exodus to the NFL we ranked Jarryd Hayne the second-best player in the NRL in 2014.
It's easy to forget just how good Hayne was that season – he won a Dally M Medal, was the league's leading try-scorer and inspired a drought-breaking NSW Origin win with a man-of-the-match performance in Game One.
He hasn't come close to those lofty heights in his time at the Titans just yet, with a single match-winning field goal his major highlight so far, but there's no denying the super-talented fullback will be a weapon for the Gold Coast next season.
19. Andrew Fifita (2015 rank: 38)
He's a player opposing fans love to hate but there's no denying the raw numbers that make Andrew Fifita one of the most dominant big men in the game.
The Sharks and NSW prop ranked second in the league for total runs and third for offloads, while also ranking first among forwards for tackle breaks and second for run metres per game.
At his best, Fifita is just about unstoppable.
18. Aaron Woods (2015 rank: 14)
The Wests Tigers skipper and Fifita's Blues teammate produced some inspirational performances for his club and state in 2016 – making 160 metres per game in the NRL as well as being the only State of Origin forward from either state to make at least 100 metres in all three games this year.
17. Josh Hodgson (New entry)
Canberra's English hooker is one of the biggest improvers in our rankings this season, and you could argue we've still rated him too low.
The dynamic rake is now considered the second-best No.9 in the league behind Australian Test skipper Cameron Smith, ranking first among hookers for try assists (16) and line-break assists (15) in 2016.
He's a major reason for the Raiders' resurgence as a premiership contender this year.
16. Greg Inglis (2015 rank: 3)
It hasn't been a year to remember for Inglis, once regarded as one of the game's top five players. His Rabbitohs side slumped to a 12th-placed finish despite ending the year with four straight wins, and Inglis wasn't his usual barnstorming self at fullback.
Regardless, the 35-Test veteran is still a walk-up starter for Queensland and Australia and at full fitness remains one of the best players on the planet.
15. James Tedesco (2015 rank: 20)
Tedesco finally claimed the NSW fullback spot this year and he's leapt past superstar Greg Inglis in our player ratings after producing another strong season despite a couple of injuries.
The Wests Tigers star scored 14 tries in 17 games (10th in the league) and made 15 line breaks (10th) and 106 tackle breaks (8th) as his club exceeded expectations to challenge for a finals berth.
14. Matthew Scott (2015 rank: 13)
In an era in which some of the game's big men play like halfbacks or throw offloads at will, Matthew Scott is a throwback to the great no-nonsense front-rowers of old.
He runs hard, he hits hard, and he's got the job done in 22 State of Origin clashes and 18 Tests for Australia.
13. Sam Burgess (New entry)
Rated the third-best player in the game by NRL.com in 2014 after leading the Rabbitohs to the NRL Grand Final – a few days before he won the Clive Churchill Medal in one of the toughest grand final appearances in recent memory – Burgess remains a powerhouse player after returning to league following a stint in English rugby.
He hasn't been the one-man saviour Souths fans hoped for but he did get through a mountain of work, ranking third in the league for total runs, fourth for offloads and 14th for tackles.
12. Billy Slater (2015 rank: 8)
One of the more contentious decisions for this year's NRL.com top 50 was where to rank Billy Slater.
Having played eight NRL games in the past two years and just one this season, some argued for him to drop out of the top 50 altogether.
On the other hand, Slater when fit remains the incumbent Queensland and Australia fullback.
The best positional No.1 rugby league has to offer and a brilliant attacking weapon alongside Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk at all levels of the game, Slater takes a small slide in our rankings due to his injury problems but there will be a lot of interest in how his performances hold up if and when he returns in 2017.
11. Darius Boyd (2015 rank: 38)
With Slater out of the picture this season, Darius Boyd has become the undisputed No.1 for Queensland and Australia in what has also been a super-consistent campaign at NRL level with the Broncos.
Boyd has scored nine tries and produced 13 try assists and 15 line-break assists for Brisbane in 2016 and has been arguably his team's best player over the past couple of years.
10. Corey Parker (2015 rank: 6)
The retiring Broncos lock slipped a little in our rankings in his final year in the NRL but remains a top-10 player in our eyes.
Parker will go down as one of the greats of NRL Fantasy due to his ability to make an impact in just about every facet of the game – a tireless defender and sensational offloader who can bust tackles, play big minutes, and kick goals to boot.
Parker will hang up the boots while still at the top of his game, as the incumbent No.13 for Queensland and Australia.
9. Jason Taumalolo (2015 rank: 47)
Taumalolo has made a massive rise in our rankings this year after a season that saw him named the Rugby League Players Association's Players' Champion for 2016, ending Johnathan Thurston's three-year reign of winning the award.
The bullocking Cowboys lock is one of the hardest men to stop in the NRL – finishing second in the league for run metres and forming a sensational combination with fellow internationals Matt Scott and James Tamou.
With arguably the most powerful running game in the league plus some underrated footwork, Taumalolo leads North Queensland for tackle breaks this season and was the only forward in the league to make more than 10 line breaks in the regular season.
8. Matt Gillett (2015 rank: 35)
Only two forwards stayed on the park for every minute of Queensland's two State of Origin wins this year – captain Cameron Smith, and Matt Gillett.
Gillett's a player who is deceptively vital to his team's chances – the Broncos won 14 of 19 regular-season games with him in the team, but just one of five while he was injured.
Strong defensively and capable of doing the hard yards and producing skilful plays when needed in attack, Gillett's taken over the mantle from the retiring Corey Parker as Brisbane's most important back-rower.
7. Paul Gallen (2015 rank: 5)
The Sharks captain has his critics but at the age of 35 he's still one of the most valuable forwards in the NRL, ranking first among all players for average run metres in 2016 with a whopping 176 per game.
No player tries harder for his team than Gallen, who finished his State of Origin career with a win as NSW captain in Game Three – as well as a perfect career goal-kicking record after slotting his only attempt at goal in the final minutes of that game.
6. Shaun Johnson (2015 rank: 7)
Johnson's club team may have missed the finals and his New Zealand side was beaten by Australia in the May Test, but the Warriors No.7 remains among the game's elite.
Despite his club's woes he finished the regular season ranked equal first with Johnathan Thurston for line-break assists, first for kicks in general play, fourth for try assists and 10th for line breaks.
When your team needs a try to win with a minute to go, there's no player you'd rather throw the ball to than the fleet-footed Johnson.
5. James Graham (2015 rank: 12)
The biggest metre-eater in the NRL in 2016, James Graham has only grown in our estimation despite a disappointing end to the season for his Bulldogs side.
Few big men can match Graham's combination of ball-playing skill and pure work ethic – he's the only NRL player to sit in the top 10 for both run metres and tackles, while also frequently acting as first receiver at a Bulldogs side lacking an experienced halfback after the exit of Trent Hodkinson.
4. Jesse Bromwich (2015 rank: 9)
The best prop in the world, Jesse Bromwich has made talk of a "big three" at the Melbourne Storm at thing of the past.
In 2016 he led the metre count and offload tally for the NRL's best team over the course of the regular season, and also captained the world's No.1-ranked Test nation, New Zealand, for the first time.
3. Cooper Cronk (2015 rank: 4)
The only unanimous selection in voting for the NRL.com top 50 was that Cooper Cronk should take out the No.3 slot.
With 11 tries and a league-high 23 assists (matching his Queensland halves partner Johnathan Thurston), the Melbourne Storm halfback was directly responsible for more tries in 2016 than any other player.
2. Johnathan Thurston (2015 rank: 1)
Last year's Dally M Medallist remains the best playmaker in rugby league.
No other player created more tries or line breaks for teammates than Thurston did this season. He's also the game's best goal-kicker, and fiercest competitor – at just 179cm and 87kg Thurston hardly has the size of a dominant defender, and yet he ranks fifth in the NRL for tackles that lead to turnovers.
And like Johnson and Cronk, he's a master at producing the match-winning play when the game is on the line – as he did with last year's grand final-winning field goal, and last week's match-winning try assist against Brisbane in extra time.
1. Cameron Smith (2015 rank: 2)
"Cam Smith's the best player I've ever seen. Ever played with, ever played against."
So said Smith's long-time State of Origin rival Paul Gallen back in July, ahead of Gallen's final game against Smith's Maroons.
Cameron Smith is the complete package – quality playmaker (15 try assists and a league-high five 40/20s this season), superb defender (ranked fourth in the league for total tackles), and excellent goal-kicker (third for goals in the NRL).
But his ability goes beyond the raw numbers.
The Australian skipper controls the play like no other and is a master at spotting weaknesses in the defensive line.
He also sweet-talks referees better than any other captain in the game.
For us, he's the NRL's No.1 player right now.
Part 1 is up which lists numbers 50-41
50. Lachlan Coote (2015 rank: N/A)
The premiership-winning fullback has not only been rock solid at the back for the Cowboys in recent years, he's also one of the game's most underrated playmakers - ranking in the league's top 10 for line-break assists and try assists.
49. Bryce Cartwright (2015 rank: N/A)
Already the NRL's most prolific offloader last year, Cartwright has developed into one of the game's most dangerous big men after making a smooth transition from the second row to five-eighth at Penrith this season.
Undoubtedly a NSW Origin player in the making, expect to see Cartwright climbing this list in the years to come.
48. Josh Mansour (2015 rank: N/A)
For years NRL Fantasy coaches have known Josh Mansour is one of the hardest man to stop in the NRL – now he's got the rep jerseys to back that up.
The NSW winger and one-time Kangaroo ranks third in the league for tackle breaks, third for line breaks and second for run metres and acts as both an elite finisher near the tryline and an extra forward when the Panthers are coming out of their own half.
47. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (2015 rank: 21)
The big Kiwi front-rower may have dropped down our rankings after a poor season from the Roosters but he remains one of the most destructive big men in the game.
46. Ben Hunt (2015 rank: 19)
By the standards he set last season, Ben Hunt has been below his best in 2016.
Regardless, a brilliant start to the campaign for the Broncos means he still leads the league for kick metres and ranks third in try assists behind Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, and at his best is one of the game's most complete halfbacks.
45. Matt Moylan (2015 rank: 27)
Such is Moylan's class that when he was handed the five-eighth role for NSW in State of Origin III, having never played there in a first-grade game, he handled the new gig as if he'd been preparing for the role his whole career.
The fullback ranks fourth for line-break assists in the NRL and sits in the top 10 for try assists.
44. Adam Reynolds (2015 rank: 36)
The new NSW halfback has had an injury-affected season but possesses one of the best kicking games in rugby league – both from the goal-kicking tee and in general play.
43. Josh Jackson (2015 rank: N/A)
He doesn't steal the limelight but there's a reason Josh Jackson plays the full 80 minutes in the NSW Blues pack – his fierce defensive game and rock-solid go-forward is readymade for Origin football.
Jackson forces more errors from tackles than any other NRL player and he's been one of the quiet achievers behind the Bulldogs' rise to the top four this season.
42. Issac Luke (2015 rank: 24)
The New Zealand hooker may have endured a rusty start to his Warriors career this season but he remains one of the game's most explosive rakes, leading the league for dummy-half runs yet again.
41. Tyson Frizell (2015 rank: N/A)
It took a little while for the one-time Wales international to get a run for the Blues but when he did he announced himself as a long-term Origin player, with a standout performance on debut including a try and an inspiring defensive chase on Dane Gagai.
A hard-running, big minute forward who has been arguably the Dragons' best in recent years.
40. Josh McGuire (2015 rank: N/A)
The Brisbane prop had already represented Queensland at Origin level and Samoa in the World Cup (at hooker of all places) but his rep career took a giant leap with selection for the Kangaroos in 2016.
One of the hardest-working big men in the game, McGuire has made more metres this season than any of his star-studded Broncos teammates.
39. Robbie Farah (2015 rank: 11)
Last season Robbie Farah was pushing for a place in NRL.com's top 10; this year he's fallen out of the Wests Tigers' first-grade 17.
Still, the NSW hooker remains one of the most dominant rakes in the game – a fact which didn't gel with Jason Taylor's gameplan at the Tigers.
Strong out of dummy-half and with a quality kicking game, Farah is also a tireless defender – no player played more minutes or made more tackles for the Blues in this year's State of Origin series.
38. Ben Barba (2015 rank: N/A)
After three underwhelming seasons, Ben Barba is back.
The Sharks fullback is coming off his best campaign since his Dally M-winning season in 2012 and while he hasn't quite matched the level of dominance he achieved that year the numbers prove he's again amongst the NRL's elite.
Barba ranks first in the league for try saves and sits in the NRL's top five for try assists and in the top 10 for tries and line breaks.
37. Trent Merrin (2015 rank: 46)
While young guns Bryce Cartwright, Matt Moylan and Nathan Cleary have grabbed the headlines this season it's a new face who has helped laid the foundation for the Panthers' 2016 revival.
Trent Merrin has been a rock in the middle of the park for Penrith, ranking seventh in the league for runs and run metres as well as sitting in the top 20 for tackles.
36. Brett Morris (2015 rank: 22)
Injury curtailed Morris's season but the seasoned campaigner remains a lethal player on the wing, instantly making an impact upon his return to the Bulldogs side with 10 tries in his first eight games back from injury.
35. James Tamou (2015 rank: N/A)
The departing Cowboys prop remains is a regular face in the Kangaroos and NSW sides and is a key part of North Queensland's fearsome forward pack, ranking among the top 25 metre-eaters in the league in 2016.
34. Wade Graham (2015 rank: N/A)
Graham finally received the State of Origin call-up many had been waiting for this year, and has been a crucial cog in the Sharks' rise up the table this season.
A Cronulla captain in the making, Graham does all the little things right and plays with the intensity needed to become a long-term Blues prospect.
33. Josh Dugan (2015 rank: 16)
The Dragons fullback hasn't enjoyed a great season at club level but remains a walk-up starter for his state and country, with a dangerous running game and the defensive ability to hold his own in the front line at centre.
Even in a quiet season at club level he's ranked third in the NRL for average metres gained in 2016.
32. Tohu Harris (2015 rank: N/A)
One of the big improvers in the rankings this season, Tohu Harris has stepped out of the shadow of his big-name Storm teammates with a super impressive season, both in the forward pack and when filling in at centre.
The New Zealand international has runs great attacking lines off Melbourne's playmakers, picking up eight tries this season, and among edge second-rowers he ranks first in the league for runs and second for support runs.
31. Josh Papalii (2015 rank: N/A)
One of the stars of Canberra's rise from erratic entertainers to genuine title contenders, Josh Papalii started in the second row for Australia against New Zealand in May and played in both Queensland's State of Origin wins this year.
One of the most destructive wide-running second-rowers – and hardest hitting defenders – in the league today.
30. Semi Radradra (2015 rank: 41)
Radradra hasn't dominated the NRL as he did in his breakout season last year – his 12 tries in 19 games doesn't compare with his outrageous tally of 24 from 18 games in 2015 – but the Semi Trailer remains one of the game's most effective wingers and is now an Australian Test player after representing the Kangaroos against New Zealand in May.
29. Jake Friend (2015 rank: 42)
Is Jake Friend the busiest player in rugby league? Not only has the Roosters skipper made a whopping 1279 tackles – 237 more than any other payer – but he's also had the most touches of the ball over anyone in the NRL in 2016.
The tireless Roosters skipper is still arguably underrated in league circles and is one of the fiercest competitors in the game.
28. James Maloney (New entry)
Maloney was always going to be a crucial signing for the Sharks but the impact he's made on the team has been immense, with the five-eighth helping turn what was once a no-frills Cronulla side into one of the best attacking outfits in the league.
He won his NSW jersey back along the way, and ranks second in the competition for points scored.
27. Michael Ennis (New entry)
"He's one of the best players I've ever coached," is how current Broncos and former Queensland and Australia coach Wayne Bennett described Ennis in July.
The veteran hooker may be hanging up his boots at the end of the season but he's going out on a high after helping guide the Sharks to within a win of the minor premiership.
Ennis's motor-mouth reputation has arguably distracted league followers from the fact he's one of the best No.9s in the business, with his ability to get under his opponents' skin matched by his workrate on both sides of the ball and knack for creating try-scoring chances for teammates.
26. Simon Mannering (2015 rank: 18)
Despite another disappointing season from the Warriors Mannering has shone yet again, ranking second in the NRL for tackles made in a team that needs a few more defenders like him.
One of the few players in the NRL to get through the full 80 minutes each week in the centre of the park at lock, Mannering continues to impress at club level despite giving up the Warriors captaincy this year.
25. Anthony Milford (2015 rank: 29)
Arguably the best player on the park in last year's NRL Grand Final, Milford exploded out of the blocks this season with eight tries in the opening seven rounds before a quiet middle part of the season as the Broncos' form wavered.
Has scored 13 tries and a league-high four field goals this season, and ranks sixth in the league for line-break assists.
On his day there are few more lethal players in rugby league.
24. Boyd Cordner (2015 rank: 48)
The Roosters' Jekyll-and-Hyde season proved how valuable Boyd Cordner is as a player. In the opening two months of the season the Tricolours struggled badly with Cordner (and teammates Mitch Pearce and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves) on the sidelines, but with the Test second-rower back to his best the Roosters thrived.
Between Round 21 and Round 24 Cordner scored three tries, made five line breaks and busted 19 attempted tackles as the Roosters beat title contenders the Broncos and Cowboys and thrashed the Dragons.
He's expected to regain his Kangaroos spot at the end of the year.
23. Daly Cherry-Evans (2015 rank: 10)
DCE slips down our rankings this year after failing to reignite the Sea Eagles as a finals force after signing a bumper new deal with the club.
He remains a standout player for Manly though – with 16 try assists in 19 games Cherry-Evans is the only player ranked in the top 10 for that stat whose team wasn't in finals contention.
22. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2015 rank: 15)
A rocky start to life as a Warrior got even rockier in Round 7 when Tuivasa-Sheck suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
That sees him drop seven places in our list but at top form the dazzling fullback is one of the best ball-runners in rugby league. Fingers crossed for Warriors fans, New Zealand supporters and neutrals alike that RTS is back to his best in 2017.
21. Michael Morgan (2015 rank: 33)
The Cowboys five-eighth has established himself as Queensland's super sub of choice – no small feat when the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Milford and Ben Barba are available – and has excelled once again at club level.
Despite playing alongside the most gifted playmaker in the game in Johnathan Thurston, Morgan has still been a key attacking weapon himself in 2016 and is ranked 12th in the league for try assists, 15th for line-break assists and 15th in support runs.
20. Jarryd Hayne (New entry)
Before his exodus to the NFL we ranked Jarryd Hayne the second-best player in the NRL in 2014.
It's easy to forget just how good Hayne was that season – he won a Dally M Medal, was the league's leading try-scorer and inspired a drought-breaking NSW Origin win with a man-of-the-match performance in Game One.
He hasn't come close to those lofty heights in his time at the Titans just yet, with a single match-winning field goal his major highlight so far, but there's no denying the super-talented fullback will be a weapon for the Gold Coast next season.
19. Andrew Fifita (2015 rank: 38)
He's a player opposing fans love to hate but there's no denying the raw numbers that make Andrew Fifita one of the most dominant big men in the game.
The Sharks and NSW prop ranked second in the league for total runs and third for offloads, while also ranking first among forwards for tackle breaks and second for run metres per game.
At his best, Fifita is just about unstoppable.
18. Aaron Woods (2015 rank: 14)
The Wests Tigers skipper and Fifita's Blues teammate produced some inspirational performances for his club and state in 2016 – making 160 metres per game in the NRL as well as being the only State of Origin forward from either state to make at least 100 metres in all three games this year.
17. Josh Hodgson (New entry)
Canberra's English hooker is one of the biggest improvers in our rankings this season, and you could argue we've still rated him too low.
The dynamic rake is now considered the second-best No.9 in the league behind Australian Test skipper Cameron Smith, ranking first among hookers for try assists (16) and line-break assists (15) in 2016.
He's a major reason for the Raiders' resurgence as a premiership contender this year.
16. Greg Inglis (2015 rank: 3)
It hasn't been a year to remember for Inglis, once regarded as one of the game's top five players. His Rabbitohs side slumped to a 12th-placed finish despite ending the year with four straight wins, and Inglis wasn't his usual barnstorming self at fullback.
Regardless, the 35-Test veteran is still a walk-up starter for Queensland and Australia and at full fitness remains one of the best players on the planet.
15. James Tedesco (2015 rank: 20)
Tedesco finally claimed the NSW fullback spot this year and he's leapt past superstar Greg Inglis in our player ratings after producing another strong season despite a couple of injuries.
The Wests Tigers star scored 14 tries in 17 games (10th in the league) and made 15 line breaks (10th) and 106 tackle breaks (8th) as his club exceeded expectations to challenge for a finals berth.
14. Matthew Scott (2015 rank: 13)
In an era in which some of the game's big men play like halfbacks or throw offloads at will, Matthew Scott is a throwback to the great no-nonsense front-rowers of old.
He runs hard, he hits hard, and he's got the job done in 22 State of Origin clashes and 18 Tests for Australia.
13. Sam Burgess (New entry)
Rated the third-best player in the game by NRL.com in 2014 after leading the Rabbitohs to the NRL Grand Final – a few days before he won the Clive Churchill Medal in one of the toughest grand final appearances in recent memory – Burgess remains a powerhouse player after returning to league following a stint in English rugby.
He hasn't been the one-man saviour Souths fans hoped for but he did get through a mountain of work, ranking third in the league for total runs, fourth for offloads and 14th for tackles.
12. Billy Slater (2015 rank: 8)
One of the more contentious decisions for this year's NRL.com top 50 was where to rank Billy Slater.
Having played eight NRL games in the past two years and just one this season, some argued for him to drop out of the top 50 altogether.
On the other hand, Slater when fit remains the incumbent Queensland and Australia fullback.
The best positional No.1 rugby league has to offer and a brilliant attacking weapon alongside Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk at all levels of the game, Slater takes a small slide in our rankings due to his injury problems but there will be a lot of interest in how his performances hold up if and when he returns in 2017.
11. Darius Boyd (2015 rank: 38)
With Slater out of the picture this season, Darius Boyd has become the undisputed No.1 for Queensland and Australia in what has also been a super-consistent campaign at NRL level with the Broncos.
Boyd has scored nine tries and produced 13 try assists and 15 line-break assists for Brisbane in 2016 and has been arguably his team's best player over the past couple of years.
10. Corey Parker (2015 rank: 6)
The retiring Broncos lock slipped a little in our rankings in his final year in the NRL but remains a top-10 player in our eyes.
Parker will go down as one of the greats of NRL Fantasy due to his ability to make an impact in just about every facet of the game – a tireless defender and sensational offloader who can bust tackles, play big minutes, and kick goals to boot.
Parker will hang up the boots while still at the top of his game, as the incumbent No.13 for Queensland and Australia.
9. Jason Taumalolo (2015 rank: 47)
Taumalolo has made a massive rise in our rankings this year after a season that saw him named the Rugby League Players Association's Players' Champion for 2016, ending Johnathan Thurston's three-year reign of winning the award.
The bullocking Cowboys lock is one of the hardest men to stop in the NRL – finishing second in the league for run metres and forming a sensational combination with fellow internationals Matt Scott and James Tamou.
With arguably the most powerful running game in the league plus some underrated footwork, Taumalolo leads North Queensland for tackle breaks this season and was the only forward in the league to make more than 10 line breaks in the regular season.
8. Matt Gillett (2015 rank: 35)
Only two forwards stayed on the park for every minute of Queensland's two State of Origin wins this year – captain Cameron Smith, and Matt Gillett.
Gillett's a player who is deceptively vital to his team's chances – the Broncos won 14 of 19 regular-season games with him in the team, but just one of five while he was injured.
Strong defensively and capable of doing the hard yards and producing skilful plays when needed in attack, Gillett's taken over the mantle from the retiring Corey Parker as Brisbane's most important back-rower.
7. Paul Gallen (2015 rank: 5)
The Sharks captain has his critics but at the age of 35 he's still one of the most valuable forwards in the NRL, ranking first among all players for average run metres in 2016 with a whopping 176 per game.
No player tries harder for his team than Gallen, who finished his State of Origin career with a win as NSW captain in Game Three – as well as a perfect career goal-kicking record after slotting his only attempt at goal in the final minutes of that game.
6. Shaun Johnson (2015 rank: 7)
Johnson's club team may have missed the finals and his New Zealand side was beaten by Australia in the May Test, but the Warriors No.7 remains among the game's elite.
Despite his club's woes he finished the regular season ranked equal first with Johnathan Thurston for line-break assists, first for kicks in general play, fourth for try assists and 10th for line breaks.
When your team needs a try to win with a minute to go, there's no player you'd rather throw the ball to than the fleet-footed Johnson.
5. James Graham (2015 rank: 12)
The biggest metre-eater in the NRL in 2016, James Graham has only grown in our estimation despite a disappointing end to the season for his Bulldogs side.
Few big men can match Graham's combination of ball-playing skill and pure work ethic – he's the only NRL player to sit in the top 10 for both run metres and tackles, while also frequently acting as first receiver at a Bulldogs side lacking an experienced halfback after the exit of Trent Hodkinson.
4. Jesse Bromwich (2015 rank: 9)
The best prop in the world, Jesse Bromwich has made talk of a "big three" at the Melbourne Storm at thing of the past.
In 2016 he led the metre count and offload tally for the NRL's best team over the course of the regular season, and also captained the world's No.1-ranked Test nation, New Zealand, for the first time.
3. Cooper Cronk (2015 rank: 4)
The only unanimous selection in voting for the NRL.com top 50 was that Cooper Cronk should take out the No.3 slot.
With 11 tries and a league-high 23 assists (matching his Queensland halves partner Johnathan Thurston), the Melbourne Storm halfback was directly responsible for more tries in 2016 than any other player.
2. Johnathan Thurston (2015 rank: 1)
Last year's Dally M Medallist remains the best playmaker in rugby league.
No other player created more tries or line breaks for teammates than Thurston did this season. He's also the game's best goal-kicker, and fiercest competitor – at just 179cm and 87kg Thurston hardly has the size of a dominant defender, and yet he ranks fifth in the NRL for tackles that lead to turnovers.
And like Johnson and Cronk, he's a master at producing the match-winning play when the game is on the line – as he did with last year's grand final-winning field goal, and last week's match-winning try assist against Brisbane in extra time.
1. Cameron Smith (2015 rank: 2)
"Cam Smith's the best player I've ever seen. Ever played with, ever played against."
So said Smith's long-time State of Origin rival Paul Gallen back in July, ahead of Gallen's final game against Smith's Maroons.
Cameron Smith is the complete package – quality playmaker (15 try assists and a league-high five 40/20s this season), superb defender (ranked fourth in the league for total tackles), and excellent goal-kicker (third for goals in the NRL).
But his ability goes beyond the raw numbers.
The Australian skipper controls the play like no other and is a master at spotting weaknesses in the defensive line.
He also sweet-talks referees better than any other captain in the game.
For us, he's the NRL's No.1 player right now.
