Straight off the bat, I'm going to admit that ranking the second rowers in 2022 was the most difficult of all lists.
There were so many good performers this season which made narrowing it down to just the ten very difficult.
Ranking them was even more difficult. I very much look forward to the comments, which again I expect only to be complimentary.
Here are the top 10 NRL backrowers from 2022. Only performances this year are taken into account and only players who were named in the back row more often than they were in other positions are eligible.
For the record Liam Martin, Briton Nikora and Jai Arrow were all shortlisted but missed the final cut.
5. Angus Crichton
The next two are potentially interchangeable in terms of position but undisputedly top five second rowers this season.
Angus Crichton was an absolute problem all 2022. He was one of the Roosters to hit the ground running despite an overall slow start.
25 games for the Chooks saw him score six tries, make 12 line breaks, throw 29 offloads and break 64 tackles, all while running for over 120 metres per game.
There is no weakness in Chrichton's game. There are almost never times you have to search his name as he's always in the game. Yet another magical season for the rep regular.
Koloamatangi for me, for consistency.
I was surprised you gave Briton Nikora a place in the shortlist. I don’t rate him as highly as Cronulla compatriots Williams and Wilton (but you’re probably a better judge of Sharks personnel than I am).