It’s undoubtedly true that every successful NRL side has a strong spine - the spine players inject creativity, guidance and structure, and touch the ball more than any other player on the field.
The fullback, halfback, five-eighth and hooker control all of the action, direct traffic and are normally the best players on the park, receiving much of the credit when things go right, but equally much of the backlash when things go wrong.
In recent years, the NRL has been blessed with some of the greatest ever spine talent, with Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Jake Friend (to name a few) as well as current megastars Nathan Cleary, James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans.
With 2022 set to be as fast, physical and competitive as ever, the sides with the best spines will continue to blow bottom sides out of the water.
Remembering that this is a ranking of spines rather than a ladder prediction, here is how we view each of the club's best spine options for 2022.
7. (10) New Zealand Warriors
Reece Walsh, Shaun Johnson, Chanel Haris-Tavita, Wayde Egan
Not since 2018 (with RTS and Shaun Johnson in his first Warriors stint) has there been such a dangerous half-fullback partnership at the Warriors.
Johnson, a few years older and with a cooler head on his shoulders, should have a solid season, with Harris-Tavita continuing as a useful halves option.
Wayde Egan has all the tools to become a top hooker, but it remains to be seen whether he goes to a new level in 2022.
With the current squad they have, I don’t see the Warriors making the finals, but will see a big improvement spine-wise, no longer fully reliant on RTS for inspiration.
