The top ten five-eighths from the 2024 NRL season

We are absolutely blessed in the year 2024. The level of talent across each and every NRL position has never been better. The current crop of NRL five-eights though is downright special. This was a very difficult list to compile. You'll soon see but one of the game's elite players missed out. A reminder that this is a list based purely on 2024 efforts. With that said, below are the top 10 five-eights from 2024: Honourable Mention: Cameron Munster Ezra Mam Truthfully, the Broncos season was going nowhere, but it officially ended in Round 22 when Ezra Mam went down with a season-ending injury. 21-year-old Mam was asked to play the lead role for long stretches in 2024 after Adam Reynolds went down injured. He did so admirably. His 19 games produced nine tries, 12 try assists, 13 line-break assists, five forced dropouts and just under 95 run metres per game. The serious incident of this past weekend was not taken into account when compiling this entry. [caption id="attachment_113670" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 07: Ezra Mam passes the ball during a Brisbane Broncos NRL training session at the Clive Berghofer Centre on February 07, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] Ethan Strange The Raiders youngster was a massive reason why we didn't hear a year long blow up about the club's decision to let Jack Wighton leave. In his 21 games, including one at centre, the 20-year-old had two tries, nine try assists, nine line-break assists, just under 80 run metres per game above, and tackled at above 86%. Strange, much like Mam, was forced to play a main role after the lengthy lay off for Jamal Fogarty. He handled it well. A finalist for Rookie of the Year honours, the sky is the limit here for Strange who had a brilliant 2024. [caption id="attachment_208533" align="alignnone" width="696"] CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 14: Ethan Strange of the Raiders in action during the round six NRL match between Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans at GIO Stadium, on April 14, 2024, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)[/caption] Dylan Brown The Eels five-eight was extremely difficult to place here. Much like the Eels, at times, he was breathtaking and, at others, ordinary. 24 appearances netted him five tries, 18 try assists, 18 line-break assists, six forced dropouts, 131 run metres per game and a tackle percentage just under 90%. There's a theme here as Brown, much like the aforementioned two, played a lone hand at times with Mitch Moses being unavailable. Brown has genuine elite half potential. He showed signs in 2024. [caption id="attachment_160636" align="alignnone" width="696"] Dylan Brown warming up at Parramatta Eels training. (Photo by Joshua Davis)[/caption] Luke Keary Luke Keary almost signed off on his incredible NRL career with yet another Grand Final appearance. He heads to the Super League having run out 26 times this season for four tries, 21 try assists, 12 line-break assists, 67 run metres per game and a tackle percentage at almost 87%. The partnership he forged with Sam Walker saw the Roosters pack on points for fun. His career will continue next year following a very brief retirement announcement. Brilliant stuff! [caption id="attachment_210543" align="alignnone" width="696"] Luke Keary posing for a picture in NSW Blues camp for Game 1 of the 2024 State of Origin series. (Photo: Joshua Davis)[/caption] Lachlan Galvin Although their club finished 17th, Tigers fans will look back upon the 2024 as being a success. It's all due to one person - Lachlan Galvin. The young playmaker had a magical season, and not just for a rookie. In his 21 appearances, he crossed for four tries, laid on 16 try assists, forced nine dropouts, had nine line-break assists and ran for 130 metres per game. All while tackling at almost 93%. Only being suspended via an early season hip drop denied him the most obvious of Rookie of the Year honours. [caption id="attachment_211093" align="alignnone" width="696"] TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 24: Lachlan Galvin of the Tigers looks on after a Cowboys try during the round 12 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on May 24, 2024, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)[/caption] Matt Burton The Bulldogs man had a great 2023 season but truly came of age (as a half) in 2024. To say he played a huge part in seeing the Bulldogs turn to Finals footy is putting it very lightly. His 23 games for his beloved Dogs saw him score nine tries, assist 13, force nine dropouts, provide 12 line-break assists, run for just under 100 metes per game and kicked for over 366 metres per game. Then there was that string of field goals! Burton has become way more than just someone who tackles hard and can kick the ball to the moon. He has become the perfectly rounded half across the past 12 months. [caption id="attachment_123196" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Matt Burton of the Bulldogs celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the round 19 NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Titans at CommBank Stadium, on July 24, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)[/caption] Luke Brooks 2024 confirmed exactly what we have all known for multiple seasons now ... that Luke Brooks needed to move away from the Tigers, and vice versa. Brooks was absolutely stunning in 2024 in his new colours. He has quickly become a Brookie favourite as a result. In 26 games he scored five tries, laid on 17 try assists, had 19 line-break assists, ran for 94 metres per game, broke 43 tackles and tackled at just under 85%. Brooks appeared in the first Finals games of his career, and looked very much at home. [caption id="attachment_206198" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 11: Luke Brooks of the Sea Eagles passes during the NRL pre-season trial match between Manly Sea Eagles and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Industree Group Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)[/caption] Braydon Trindall I'd argue over the final ten weeks of the Sharks season that Trindall usurped Nicho Hynes at the Sharks main man in attack. Following a very encouraging 2023 season, Trindall came of age in 2024 and emerged as the long term number six, or seven, in the Shire. Across his 20 games he scored an incredible 11 tries, had 18 try assists, 16 line-break assists, forced nine drop outs, and kicked for over 335 metres per game. Trindall compiled a lot of those stats as the main half also, with Hynes either injured or struggling to retain his early season form. Extremely impressive. [caption id="attachment_105598" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 15: Braydon Trindall of the Sharks attempts to break away from the defence during the round 10 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium, on May 15, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] Tom Dearden Tom Dearden enjoyed a majestic 2024 season that saw him emerge as the next man up for Queensland and the Kangaroos. If you want to argue he should be number one here, I'll push back but it won't be through his lack of ability or performance. 24 games saw him score nine tries, lay on 13 try assists, provide 17 line-break assists, break 77 tackles, tackle at almost 90% and run for just under 100 metres per game. Dearden celebrated his wonderful season with a try on debut for the Kangaroos. [caption id="attachment_116684" align="alignnone" width="696"] TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 19: Tom Dearden of the Cowboys in action during the round two NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Canberra Raiders at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on March 19, 2022, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)[/caption] Jarome Luai The Panthers superstar had yet another magical season en route to a fourth straight Premiership victory. Often without Nathan Cleary by his side. Across his 24 games he crossed for four tries, had 15 try assists, 13 line-break assists, forced 17 dropouts, kicked for almost 240 metres per game, ran for over 100 metres, produced 40 offloads and tackled at over 84%. Importantly Luai also delivered in the Origin arena. His errors of 2024 are well in the rear vision mirror now. He heads to the Tigers as one of the Panthers all time greats! [caption id="attachment_161652" align="alignnone" width="696"] PENRITH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 04: Jarome Luai of the Panthers runs the ball during the round 23 NRL match between Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm at BlueBet Stadium on August 04, 2023 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)[/caption]