When conversation ahead of the 2022 season has shifted to signings, the talk immediately goes to the likes of Adam Reynolds, Matt Burton, Kurt Capewell, Dane Gagai and Josh Addo-Carr.
While it’s true that they will be the names to set tongues wagging and have fans riding a wave of expectation at formerly struggling clubs heading into the new season, that doesn’t mean they are all their is to get excited about.
Every club has made off-season moves heading into the new season as they look to strengthen their squads, and with the exception of the Penrith Panthers, every club wants to have better performances and end results than they did in 2021.
Many of the bottom eight clubs from last year have recruited smartly, while others in the top eight have also made excellent signings.
It’s the players who aren’t mentioned in every news story who could yet make the biggest difference to their new clubs as the 2022 season commences.
There were plenty to pick from as well, with the likes of Nick Meaney, Bailey Simonsson, Nick Cotric, Matt Ikuvalu, Ethan Bullemor and Xavier Coates all missing the top five, despite their strong credentials for the season ahead.
Here are the top five underrated signings heading into 2022.
Hiku is one of the NRL's quiet achievers.
While the New Zealand Warriors might not have had a great deal of success during his tenure at the club, the blame for that can hardly be attributed to a centre.
Hiku has a reputation as an excellent player out wide, and while he only managed ten games for the Warriors during 2021, the change of scenery to Townsville could do him the world of good.
A strong defensive option at the worst of times, Hiku has made a name for himself with his ball running, averaging 115 metres per contest in those games last year.
His versatility, which can see him shift to fullback, into the halves or out to the wing, could also come in handy for the Warriors.
He knows how to find the tryline, with 53 tries in his NRL career, but he also has 41 try assists to his name and will look to improve on those numbers in a strong combination with likely winger Kyle Feldt this year.
This is the signing which is likely to either make or break the Raiders season.
If it comes off, then the Raiders have the talent to challenge for a spot in the top four come September and the end of the season. If it doesn't, then Fogarty will be lucky to have a spot in the run-on side and the Raiders will be lucky to be outside of the top four.
When George Williams left in the middle of the 2021 season, the Raiders were already struggling, but their dramatic fade out during the second half of the season, which eventually saw them miss the top eight altogether, was hardly an expected outcome for the Green Machine, who had been in most pundit's top six heading into the season, and had made the grand final at the end of 2019.
Fogarty, on the other hand, had been a star of the show in getting the Titans to the finals last year and while he was squeezed out of the club by plenty of young talent, it's now up to him to guide the Raiders back up the table.
Indirectly through his own form and kicking game, it will also be Fogarty's job to get Jack Wighton back to form, while he also will be responsible for directing traffic and ensuring the forward pack - which has a mountain more potential than it showed last year - get back to their best.
The Dragons recruitment strategy for the new season has been one which has been questioned, criticised and frankly, laughed at from every angle.
The likes of Aaron Woods and George Burgess coming into the side given the speed of the game currently has seemed odd on the surface, but it's not all questions and head-scratchers at the Red V.
Jaydn Su'A is a signature who has been pushed below the surface and completely forgotten about.
A Queensland State of Origin representative, he seemed to fall out of favour for a minuscule period in the middle of the season under Wayne Bennett, but was back in the starting side when it mattered.
The 24-year-old played 71 minutes of the grand final, and wound up averaging almost 100 metres per game for the season, tackling at 93 per cent and making 16 offloads. He was a threat with the football, strong defensively and undoubtedly will gain a starting spot in the Dragons side for Round 1.
The Penrith Panthers have lost a good one in Paul Momirovski, while the Roosters have made an exceptional pickup.
On the Roosters side of the fence, they gain an experienced, NRL-level centre who will take the pressure off having to pick either Billy Smith or Joseph Suaalii all season.
On the Panthers side, they lose a player who was pivotal to their grand final push without ever being talked about as a genuine star. Every premiership-winning side needs players like Momirovski.
He might have hopped between four different clubs, but Momirovski put together his best NRL season in 2021 in the centres for Penrith. The right side defensive centre position has become one of the most important in the game, up against constant threats from attacking left edges.
Momirovski did a superb job time and time again, but also found himself attacking strongly, running for more than 100 metres per game with plenty of hard yards, as well as scoring six tries, laying on another seven and adding 63 tackle busts to the stat line.
Matt Burton might have got the raps on the other side of the field, but don't discredit how important Momirovski was.
Liu is this year's most underrated signing.
Playing in a Sydney Roosters team which was depleted from injury more often than it wasn't, he stood up in a big way, rising from the level he had displayed in previous years.
His versatility to play at prop, lock and in the second-row meant he was a Mr.Fix-It style option for the Roosters, all the while averaging big minutes, big numbers and outputting quality production on a consistent basis.
He played 26 games for the tri-colours in 2021 and has now played more than 200 NRL games, tackling at over 96 per cent last year and running for just over 100 metres per game.
He now joins a Titans forward pack which needs his experience, and Liu could well be the missing link as he joins the likes of Moeaki Foutaika, David Fifita and new captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui.
Don't be surprised to see the Titans go to the next level in the middle third on the back of Liu's arrival.