The best and most important players in the NRL are often spine players.
All of the top teams have a number of excellent players in the spine, and the Dally M Medal count was dominated by spine players in 2021.
While fullback Tom Trbojevic won it, the top five was made up of halves Nathan Cleary, Cody Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans, while another fullback rounded it out with James Tedesco finishing fifth.
All of those players are at the peak of their powers, and their teams made up those going deep into the finals.
There could be a change a foot for 2022 though, with a few bottom-eight teams from 2021 appearing in the top eight of this list.
Yesterday, we ran through the bottom eight spines in the competition, and now, it's time for the top eight.
Here is the list.
1. Melbourne Storm
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant
Strong as ever, Craig Bellamy has Queensland stars Cameron Munster and Harry Grant as well as NZ halfback Jahrome Hughes and Clive Churchill medalist Papenhuyzen at his disposal.
That doesn't even mention Brandon Smith who will likely start at lock with the Storm attempting to replace the departed Dale Finucane, who has held down the 13 jumper for years.
Hughes has emerged as one of the game’s best calm heads with a strong kicking and running game to partner Munster’s creativity and flair.
Around the ruck, Melbourne remains the most dangerous side, threatening defences with Papenhuyzen’s electric speed, Grant’s piercing dummy-half runs and their lethal mastery of the outside-inside play.
