The NRL finals series is swiftly approaching, where teams go up another gear in the fight for the premiership trophy, separating the elite from the rest.
Many stars have established themselves in NRL folklore during some of the heroics made during a sudden-death final.
Here are the players who are set to feature in this year's finals race you'd want on your side during an elimination match to ensure victory.
1. Nathan Cleary
Cleary is the absolute clutch player of the competition and has achieved everything the game can offer with incredible skill and playmaking presence.
Cleary's only 'knock' was he hasn't stepped up in State of Origin, and responded in compelling fashion by winning a decider in Brisbane with two tries to his name and a Player of the Series accolade in 2026.
A jack of all trades, Cleary can kick goals off the tee, field goals in matches, score tries, set them up and is a handy defender on the other side of the ball.
Headlined by his magical Grand Final performance in 2023, Cleary turned on the clutch and performed a dominant 15-minute playmaking display to seal the Panthers' third straight title in a row.
Many have written the Panthers off this year with Isaah Yeo's injury, but with Cleary at the helm, they will always put up a strong fight in do-or-die circumstances.
