With the NRL season well and truly underway, and the competition heating up, it is time to look at who are the three most important players at every club around the competition.
From players who are Origin stars and in form, to others who have missed the mark this year but still hold the keys to their entire team's operation, these are the players your team can simply not perform without.
North Queensland Cowboys
Tom Dearden
Although currently injured, Tom Dearden is the most important player at the Cowboys. He is vital in attack, with a potent passing game and elite kicking game.
Dearden is also the captain and has really thrust himself into North Queensland “great” status. Jake Clifford has done an incredible job in the absence of Dearden and would be on this list if speaking only about 2026.
Scott Drinkwater
Drinkwater almost plays like a second playmaker, grabbing the ball in space, spreading it wide and kicking if needed.
Drinkwater has become an important part of the Cowboys system and his ability to turn a game has been a welcome addition.
He can have plenty of rocks and diamonds moments and when he is not delivering it is hard to imagine he is in this conversation, but it is his diamond moments that outweigh the bad. Drinkwater brings tons of value to this Cows side.
Jason Taumalolo
Over the past few seasons, Taumalolo's form has dipped and there's no disputing that he hasn't been at the heights that saw him win a Dally M but the fact is “JT” has become so important to the Cowboys that he is still one of the first players picked week in, week out.
Taumalolo has just played 300 games for the club and has an aura about him that makes others want to play and perform for the big man.
I think that Manly need Luke Brooks more than Turbo.
Certainly Turbo – on his day – can win a game for Manly; but those days are few and far between now. Tom T might better be called TooOftenInjuredBo rather than Turbo, these days.