Halfback is the most important position in the NRL. I don't think anyone can dispute that statement.
We saw how drastically the Sharks' performances improved with the arrival of a class halfback. Meanwhile, those sides struggling to find a star number seven very rarely play finals footy.
Luckily for fans, there seems to be a plethora of talented number sevens in the game right now. Ranking them was very, very difficult and I'm sure will be met with nothing but positivity in the comments.
As with other lists, this is based purely on 2022. It's not necessarily the best players in this position overall.
To qualify a player must have played halfback more often than not. There will be one technical exception as we saw with the five-eights.
4. Nathan Cleary
First up, in my opinion, Nathan Cleary is the best halfback in the game. That said, his suspension ensured he couldn't produce the impact of the three placed above him.
When Cleary was on the field though, for Penrith, he was marvellous. He'll win the Dally M medal next year if he stays fit.
His 2022, in only 17 games remember, produced three tries, 18 try assists, 14 line break assists, 17 forced dropouts, 95 metres run per game and a lazy 479 kicking metres per game.
Cleary's suspension wasn't ideal but given he returned to the Finals well-rested, maybe it was a blessing in disguise. He was near-perfect in the three finals victories.
