Earlier this week I was discussing with a group of friends the current crop of match-winning centres in the NRL.
We've seen some world-class number threes and fours in the past but never has the role been as important as it is in modern day league.
Centres are now required to defend and run like forwards, ball play like halves and score tries like wingers.
In 2022, we saw some special performances. Narrowing down a top ten was much easier when it came to fullbacks and wingers than it was here.
Some monster performers will miss out below, such was the talent on show in the position in 2022.
Here though are the top ten centres from 2022. As with the previous lists, a player can only qualify if he played more games at centre then other positions. Again, this isn't necessarily the top 10 centres in the game but the ten best performers in 2022.
8. Jesse Ramien
Ramien may be the most difficult to place here. I originally had him 10th but then his stats saw him briefly move into the top five. Ultimately, we land here.
His stats indicate he probably should be higher: 10 tries, nine assists, 93 tackle breaks, 11 line-breaks, 125 metres per game and 38 offloads.
The reason he didn't land higher is that he has an error in him. A brain snap cost his side victory in Round One while his passing is very hit or miss.
If Ramien can limit the errors in 2023, there is no reason he can't be in Origin discussion. He has the raw talent to be a top three centre in the game. 2022 showed that.
