How many players each team used this season

Player usage numbers from this NRL season paint a stark picture of the brutal grind of rugby league across 27 rounds.

Seventeen clubs, several injury and rotation stories, and, at the extremes, the contrast is telling.

In the NRL, durability might be the most underrated asset a club has.

The Wests Tigers used more players than any other club in the competition, with 35 across the campaign.

There was a stretch between their loss to the Sharks early in the season and round 15 when they lost a player to injury in each consecutive match.

Melbourne Storm was one shy of the Tigers, with major injuries to key players across the season.

However, they had four players play all 24 games this season, the most of any club.

At the other end, Penrith Panthers used just 25 players, the tightest squad in the competition.

That's the mark of a settled, senior squad leaning on continuity rather than chopping and changing.

None of the Roosters players featured in all 24 games for the club, despite using 33 players in total.

It's a strange fact, given there are players who have played at least 20 games this season.

Penrith's efficiency versus the Tigers' turnover is really the headline. Fewer players, more consistency, better results.