Wingers have never been more important to team success than they currently are. They seem to get better and better every season.
Some of the tries we've seen over the past few seasons have to be seen to be believed. The metres made by these "smaller" players is so crucial in the modern game.
2022 saw a plethora of massive performances from a host of wingers. Whether that be tries, try saving tackles, highlight reel leaps or getting sets off to a solid start, the modern-day winger is a different animal.
Below are the ten best wingers from 2022.
As with our earlier fullbacks list, this is based purely on 2022 and isn't necessarily a list of the best wingers overall.
To qualify for this list the player must have played more games in the wing spot than at any other position.
3. Joseph Suaalii
Plenty of players on this list have had some sort of wrap on them in their early days. Perhaps no one on that list, or any list for that matter, carried the hype of Joseph Suaalii.
His 2022 saw him deliver on said hype to the point he was the prize on offer across an international tug of war for his World Cup services.
15 tries, 16 line breaks, 64 tackle breaks and 138 running metres are impressive stats but his performances provided so much more than even they suggest.
Suaali'i's efforts saw him beat out a host of superstar performers to capture his first Dally M honour. I doubt it will be his last.
I see what you mean. I thought JAC at 10 must be questionable, but it’s hard to see who he could replace, higher in the list.
You know the current crop of wingers are good when Mika Sivo can’t crack the top ten.