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.
2. Isaiah Papali'i
As good as Kikau was, in my view his Eels counterpart was just that little bit better. Papali'i proved you can play through transfer distractions as he was routinely one of the best on ground for the Eels.
Papali'i ran out 28 times for his side in 2022 to a return of 10 tries, 140 metres run per game, 37 offloads, 99 tackle breaks, 13 line breaks and 93% tackle efficiency.
There were games this year when he was unstoppable. He lead the charge in absolutely battering the in form Raiders in the Finals. His 232 metres largely set the platform for his creative teammates to run riot.
I fully understand the salary cap constraints, but the Eels are going to look back upon their inability to keep Papali'i at the club with a grimace. Huge pick up for the Tigers.
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).