Top ten wingers from 2023

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 winger 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 winger 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 wingers based purely and totally on 2023: Honourable mentions: Alex Johnston, Xavier Coates & Mikaele Ravalawa Alofiana Khan-Pereira AKP announced himself to Titans fans with six tries in two pre-season games, and it's fair to say he more than delivered in the NRL season proper also. 20 tries, and 30 line breaks from his 23 games saw the rookie stand out as a real highlight in an otherwise under par season on the Gold Coast. There were a few quiet games, which stop him from ranking higher, but the 21 year-old really couldn't have done more in his debut season. Expect a huge 2024 season from the try-scoring freak who can be very, very happy with his 2023 shift in the top grade. Ronaldo Mulitalo No one on this list was harder to rank the the enigmatic Sharks winger. Multialo had days where he was the best in the business, yet also had days where Sharks fans were pulling their hair out. Ultimately Mulitalo was a constant threat, a try-scoring regular and on the days where he was played well, the Sharks were far more likely to win. [caption id="attachment_47381" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 25: Ronaldo Mulitalo of the Sharks celebrates winning the round 19 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the North Queensland Cowboys at Shark Park on July 25, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] Across 23 games he crossed for 21 tries, made 33 line breaks, had five try assists, broke 76 tackles and ran for 136 metres per game. Ronaldo is one of the game's genuine aerial threats and arguably the most passionate man in the Shire. I still maintain he can be the best winger in the game if he finds consistency. Will Warbrick This is going to be controversial but I actually think Warbrick had a better season than his Storm wing team mate, and player of the year, Xavier Coates. The towering rookie was absolutely magnificent in his debut season in the top grade. Across his 25 games he scores 17 tries, made 20 line breaks and ran for over 130 metres per game. He scored some freaky tries well beyond his years and experience. [caption id="attachment_136529" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 23: Will Warbrick in action during a Melbourne Storm NRL pre-season training session at Gosch's Paddock on November 23, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)[/caption] I'm really excited to see what Warbrick can do in 2024 with another full NRL off-season under his belt. The sky is literally the limit. Sunia Turuva Another entry, another rookie. This time it is the best of them all, and the 2023 Rookie of the season, Penrith's Sunia Turuva. When Talan May was ruled out of the season, you can be forgiven for thinking that Penrith may struggle to fill that spot. Safe to say, they did not. [caption id="attachment_163053" align="alignnone" width="2560"] PENRITH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 02: Sunia Turuva of the Panthers celebrate after scoring a try during the round 27 NRL match between Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys at BlueBet Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Izhar Khan/Getty Images)[/caption] Turuva was a monster out wide for the Premiers in 26 games. He scored 12 tries, broke 124 tackles, made 17 line breaks and was arguably in the top few defensive wingers this year. His performances were such that he is now a rusted on piece of the Panthers puzzle. A magnificent season for the youngster. Selwyn Cobbo It's hard to believe that 21 year-old Selwyn Cobbo is already in his third season of NRL action but 2023 was the year where he absolutely came of age. 20 tries, 21 line breaks, 111 tackle breaks and almost 150 run metres per game shows his magnificent efforts in attack. His defence is also hugely underrated. It's scary to think how good this kid is going to be in the coming years, especially if 2023 is an accurate guide. He was picked for both QLD and Australia in game one of the respective series. I dare suggest he has a massive rep future ahead of him. Greg Marzhew Looking back now, it seems beyond belief that Greg Marzhew didn't appear until Round four. He was a monster on the wing for Newcastle, in every sense of the word. In his 22 games he crossed for 22 tries, made 27 line breaks, ran for 200 metres per game and ... get this, made 177 tackle breaks! There we multiple games this year where Marzhew was simply unstoppable. His try try, 240 metre game against the Bunnies stands out but Canberra and Dogs fans will still be having nightmares also. With his wing partner moving on at the end of the season, Marzhew is now the man out wide in the Hunter. Brian To'o The top few were so difficult to rank. You could absolutely convince me that To'o was a top three winger this year. I have him just missing out though. The Penrith, Blues and Samoan wrecking ball had yet another highlight year. [caption id="attachment_159266" align="alignnone" width="1669"] Panthers winger Brian To'o aiming to catch a loose ball at NSW Blues training. (Photo by Joshua Davis)[/caption] Across 23 games for Penrith he crossed for 21 tries, made 24 line breaks, ran for 200 metres per game and broke 109 tackles. Right now, there's no more reliable winger in the game than To'o. He plays at the end of a pretty handy backline but he never lets anyone down, with out without the ball in hand. Dominic Young If this were ranked on the last month of the competition, Young finishes number one by a mile. He was literally breathtaking at times. Young scored arguably the two best tries you'll ever see, in the same game!!! He crossed for 25 tries in his 25 games this season, while also making 32 line breaks, assisting five tries, running for 152 metres per game and breaking 120 tackles. In any other season, Young would have walked into the Dally M team of the year. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak Earlier I said Dom Young scored two of the best tries you'll ever see. DWZ scored about eight similar this season! He was a magician out wide for the mighty Warriors in 2023, and very much earned his spot on the wing in the Dally M team of the year. [caption id="attachment_114821" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SUNSHINE COAST, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 12: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak of the Warriors is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during the round one NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the St George Illawarra Dragons at Sunshine Coast Stadium, on March 12, 2022, in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] Across his 20 games he scored 24 tries, laid on four, made 25 line breaks, broke 80 tackles and ran for over 150 metres per game. His NRL season started in Round seven. It's not beyond belief that he would have crossed for 30 plus if he'd played the full season. Jamayne Isaako I could be convinced that any of three of four names here could top this list, but for mine the Dolphins winger stood above the rest. With the greatest of respects to his side, Isaako was not blessed with the same talent providing opportunities enjoyed by some others here. He topped both the try scoring and points totals across the regular season with 24 tries and 73 goals - total of 244 points. Far from being just a point scorer, Isaako made 30 line breaks, broke 104 tackles, and ran for 166 metres per game. What an incredible season for the Dolphins inaugural player of the year.