With the off-season comes the usual troupes.
Talk of expansion, the divisions talk, player movements and of course post-season rankings.
Today we're here to focus on the rankings. More specifically, the NRL lock rankings from 2023.
Please keep in mind that these rankings are based only on 2023. Both NRL and Origin performances will be taken into account. Not specifically who is the best lock outright.
Before we start, I'm going to take a moment to answer some of the usual questions to appear in the comments to any sort of rankings.
Do I even watch football? Yes, every game.
Are my eyes painted on? No. That would be funny though.
Who am I? Just a fan.
With that said, below are the top 10 NRL locks based purely and totally on 2023:
Honorable Mention: Victor Radley, Adam Elliott
1. Patrick Carrigan
The Broncos middle was so, so good in 2023. I'm honestly running out of superlatives to describe a season that saw him finish above a host of huge performers.
Carrigan played a colossal role in taking the Broncos within literal minutes of a well deserved Premiership win.
In his 23 games in 2023 for the Broncs, he crossed for a pair of tries, broke 54 tackles, had 38 offloads, ran for almost 160 metres per game and tackled at just under 95%.
Carrigan is now firmly entrenched as one of the game's very elite middle forwards and deservingly so. His Dally M lock of the year award was very much a deserved ode to a brilliant season.
Harris and Yeo are club captains.
McInnes (former Dragons captain) ought to be captaining the Sharks.
Nico is too nice.