With the NRL heading into the final six rounds of the regular season and the top eight battle heating up, we thought we would take a look at the top five players who have surprised us this reason.
The players have been listed in accordance with their reputation, or lack thereof, coming into this season as well as the impact they have had on their team's fortunes in the 2019 season.
3. Reuben Garrick
Like some of the other names to feature on this list, most armchair rugby league fans would not have had a clue going into 2019 who Reuben Garrick was, but his performances since debuting in round one have made everyone stand up and take notice.
Growing up in St George Illawarra heartland having played his junior football for the Gerringong Lions, Garrick was widely renowned for his raw physical abilities during his junior days.
Standing at an imposing 188 cm and 98 kg with a fair bit of pace behind him, these physical advantages, as well as reasonable performances for the Dragons NSW Cup side, convinced the Sea Eagles to offer him a one-year deal for the 2019 season.
Not a whole lot was expected of Garrick or his Sea Eagles at the beginning of the season, with the man from the Peninsula sporting one of the youngest and most in-experienced back lines in NRL history.
However, much like his team, Garrick has gone onto prove all the doubters wrong. Going onto become an extremely impressive contributor on the wing, bagging 11 tries from his 18 appearances, averaging over 100 running metres per game as well as taking on the teams goal-kicking duties to great success possessing a 78% success rate off the tee.
Still only 21, Garrick’s notable early season form earnt him a two-year contract extension in May keeping him on the Northern Beaches until the end of 2021.
