2023 was a year of big changes right across the NRL.
From a new team, to the improvement of the Warriors and Knights, to other teams like the Rabbitohs, Eels and Cowboys being on a slippery slope to the bottom, there was plenty to keep track of week to week.
A season like that is always going to bring contrasting ideals for a number of players, and there were some who made major leaps forward on their careers.
For some, it has already new contracts signed, while for others, potential has been fulfilled. For one, you could argue it was a career-saving season.
Here are the ten most improved players from the 2023 NRL season.
4. Phoenix Crossland (Newcastle Knights)
In any standard year, you may well have had Crossland as the number one on this list.
There are a number of players who had a say in Newcastle's stunning second half of the season. Kalyn Ponga certainly takes most of the credit, and the forwards stood up, but with Jayden Brailey injured, filling the number nine jumper was of critical importance.
The problem of course was that with Chris Randall moving to the Titans, the Knights didn't really have a second-choice.
And so, Crossland, along with Kurt Mann, was thrust into the role for much of the season. Crossland was a half, who became a utility, and then a hooker, and he excelled there during 2023.
Whether it's a role he will hold moving forward is anyone's guess, but he is now an established, cemented first-grader with a new contract and will be a big part of Adam O'Brien's side moving into 2024.
