The regular season has passed us by in 2024, so who were the standout performers across 27 rounds of rugby league action?
This team sees a Titans try-scoring sensation partner a Cowboys veteran who delivered an wildly impressive swan song on the wing.
Meanwhile, one halfback shone brighter than his rivals while two of the competition’s most dangerous players make up he backrow pairing.
Here, the Fox Sports Lab and Fox League break down who has had the best statistical seasons in 2024!
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FULLBACK
James Tedesco: A stellar campaign from the Roosters skipper, churning out massive numbers week in, week out under Trent Robinson. He played 22 times this season and was a consistent figure for the Tricolours after being left out of the NSW Blues side for the final two games. That omission allowed him to put together this mammoth season that included a staggering 26 try assists and 14 tries of his own.
Tries: 14
Runs PG: 16.9
Metres PG: 176
Tackle Busts: 151
Linebreaks: 21
Linebreak assists: 32
Try assists: 26
Honourable mentions: Scott Drinkwater
WINGERS
Alofiana Khan-Pereira: The Titans flyer proved he’s one of the game’s most lethal finishers in 2024. While he may not be a metre-eating winger, put Khan-Pereira in space and he’s almost certain to burn his opposite man. In only 21 games he crossed the while line on 24 occasions for a ridiculous strike rate.
Tries: 24
Runs PG: 10
Metres PG: 107
Tackle Busts: 64
Linebreaks: 25
Kyle Feldt: This Cowboys veteran wound back the clock in 2024, ending his NRL career on a high with a stellar display. In only 23 games he scored 22 tries, putting together a strong running metres average of 146 and breaking the line a ridiculous 30 times. Throw in the mix 74 tackle busts and it’s a season to remember for this North Queensland legend.
Tries: 22
Runs PG: 15.4
Metres PG: 146
Tackle Busts: 74
Linebreaks: 30
Honourable mentions: Ronaldo Mulitalo
CENTRES
Val Holmes: Many would argue Holmes wasn’t up to his usual standards in 2024, but statistically he’s still the best centre in the game. He scored a ridiculous 246 points to sit atop the leaderboard this year, crossing the white line on 14 occasions. He also assisted eight more four-pointers and had a hand in a total 28 line breaks. A ridiculous season numbers wise for the Maroons gun.
Tries: 14
Points: 246
Runs PG: 14.9
Metres PG: 135
Tackle Busts: 84
Linebreaks: 16
Linebreak assists: 12
Try assists: 8
Dane Gagai: He was back with a vengeance in 2024. The Knights veteran was excellent through the club’s latest campaign and some of his numbers were very impressive. He broke the third most amount of tackles of any player and also contributed massively with his running metres, averaging 135 per game.
Tries: 8
Runs PG: 15.4
Metres PG: 135
Tackle Busts: 137
Linebreaks: 16
Try assists: 5
Honourable mentions: Jesse Ramien
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FIVE-EIGHTH
Tom Dearden: A huge campaign for a man that was once discarded by the Broncos. Dearden has been the most consistent five-eighth across the competition this season, and played 22 games outside of his Origin commitments. While his try assists don’t match the 21 and 19 tallied by Luke Brooks and Luke Keary, Dearden runs the ball considerable more and broke the line six more times than his Sea Eagles counterpart. An impressive campaign from the Cowboys No.6.
Tries: 8
Runs PG: 6.1
Tackle Busts: 69
Linebreaks: 13
Linebreak assists: 19
Try assists: 10
Honourable mentions: Luke Brooks, Luke Keary
HALFBACK
Jahrome Hughes: This one’s the easiest position to pick. Hughes has been arguably the best player in the competition this year, and is widely tipped to win the Dally M Medal. He broke 86 tackles, the defensive line 18 times and assisted 27 tries to go with scoring nine. Hughes’ campaign has been sensational and his running game has been key to the Storm’s success in 2024.
Tries: 9
Runs PG: 7
Metres PG: 77
Tackle Busts: 86
Linebreaks: 18
Linebreak assists: 26
Try assists: 27
Tackles PG: 15.8
Honourable mentions: Sam Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans
PROPS
Addin Fonua-Blake: Fonua-Blake has been a wrecking ball for the Warriors, having missed only one game after he was stood down for an off-field incident. The Sharks recruit scored eight tries, a remarkable tally for a prop to go with 90 tackle busts and 153 running metres per game. A solid season for the New Zealand enforcer, being a shining light for the ‘Wahs’.
Tries: 8
Runs PG: 16.1
Metres PG: 153
Tackle Busts: 90
Linebreaks: 9
Tackles PG: 24.5
Offloads: 24
Joseph Tapine: He was labelled the “best prop in the game” by Ricky Stuart, and Tapine’s numbers suggest he’s right up there. The Raiders enforcer led from the front once again alongside Josh Papalii, and what’s impressed most is his playmaking ability. He recorded eight linebreak assists and four try assists to go with his tireless motor in the middle. Impressive stuff from the Raiders skipper.
Runs PG: 14.7
Metres PG: 142
Tackle Busts: 55
Linebreaks: 2
Linebreak assists: 8
Try assists: 4
Tackles PG: 29.4
Offloads: 29
Honourable mentions: Payne Haas
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HOOKER
Blayke Brailey Hooker was one of the toughest positions to pick this season, with Harry Grant, Reed Mahoney and Jacob Liddle also delivering in 2024. However, across the board Brailey was the man who was a consistent presence for the Sharks. he tallied 11 try assists, the most of any hooker alongside Reed Mahoney. He also touches the ball more than any other No.9, tallying almost 12 more possessions than second best in Harry Grant. Overall, Brailey has been as consistent as they come.
Tries: 3
Possessions PG: 127
Tackle Busts: 27
Linebreaks: 2
Linebreak assists: 8
Try assists: 11
Tackles PG: 36.2
Offloads: 6
Honourable mentions: Harry Grant, Jacob Liddle, Reed Mahoney
BACK ROWERS
Eliesa Katoa: A true attacking threat on the right edge for the Storm. Alongside Hughes, Katoa has been almost unstoppable for Melbourne, and tallied a ridiculous try-scoring record this year. He’s scored 12, one less than winger Will Warbrick and the same as utility Tyran Wishart. Throw in the mix 12 line breaks, 116 running metres per game and almost 29 tackles on average, and that’s a dangerous campaign.
Tries: 12
Runs PG: 12.7
Metres PG: 116
Tackle Busts: 46
Linebreaks: 12
Linebreak assists: 7
Try assists: 4
Tackles PG: 28.8
Offloads: 24
Angus Crichton: Crichton has been arguably the best back rower this season. After starting the year in reserve grade, it’s been a delight for all rugby league fans to see him return to the top of his game. On the left edge for the Roosters Crichton has scored 11 tries to go with seven try assists. He doubled Katos’s offloads with 51 and also broke the line seven times. Overall, he’s a sure thing to be included in the Dally M Team of the Year.
Tries: 11
Runs PG: 14.2
Metres PG: 112
Tackle Busts: 73
Linebreaks: 7
Linebreak assists: 7
Try assists: 7
Tackles PG: 25
Offloads: 51
Honourable mentions: Briton Nikora
LOCK
Isaah Yeo: He’s been the Panthers’ most important player this season outside of Jarome Luai. Yeo has been a mainstay for Penrith, taking his game to a new level in the absence of the club’s talisman Nathan Cleary. Almost every time he gets the ball it seems Yeo will break the line or create something, assisting six tries to go with 123 running metres per game. He also makes almost 34 tackles each and every week and is a deserving member of this team.
Tries: 2
Runs PG: 12.6
Metres PG: 123
Tackle Busts: 56
Linebreaks: 6
Linebreak assists: 5
Try assists: 6
Tackles PG: 33.8
Offloads: 26
Honourable mentions: Pat Carrigan
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