Broncos pair Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam have overtaken Eels stars Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown in the pecking order in the NRL halves rankings.
Meanwhile a number of new combinations have emerged, but there is no doubting who reigns supreme atop the best playmaker combinations in the game.
Read on for every NRL halves pairing for 2023 ranked.
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17. TIGERS
Halves: No.6 Jayden Sullivan, No.7 Aidan Sezer
Analysis: The back-to-back wooden spooners lost Luke Brooks to the Sea Eagles and Adam Doueihi to a knee injury for a large chunk of 2024 meaning they will field a brand new halves pairing next season. Veteran playmaker Aidan Sezer has been brought to the club to give the Tigers some much needed experience in the halves, but at 32 it remains to be seen if he can reach the heights of 2019 when he led the Raiders to the Grand Final in his last year in the NRL before moving to the Super League. Sezer has scored 26 tries in 155 NRL games for the Raiders and Titans, while he scored 12 tries and 184 points in 67 games for Huddersfield and Leeds in the UK Super League. Latu Fainu (Sea Eagles) and Jayden Sullivan (Dragons) have been brought to the club to fill the other halves spot with Sullivan tipped to get first crack at partnering Sezer. However, the 22-year-old failed to cement a starting role in the halves in his 27 games at the Dragons since his debut in 2020 and he is unproven as a consistent playmaker in the NRL. Sullivan and Sezer gifted players at opposite ends of their careers and could form a solid partnership, but at this stage they haven’t shown enough in the NRL in recent times and as a partnership to avoid last spot on the halves rankings.
16. RAIDERS
Halves: No.6 Kaeo Weekes, No.7 Jamal Fogarty
Analysis: The Raiders may have just made the finals last season, but they lost their five-eighth and arguably their best player in Jack Wighton to the Rabbitohs in 2024. His replacement is likely to be Kaeo Weekes, who joined the club from the Sea Eagles. However, despite playing plenty of junior footy in the halves the 21-year-old has only started one NRL game at No.6 in a game Manly lost and he has spent most of his 12-game career either at fullback or on the bench. Weekes has the potential to be an excellent player in the NRL in the future, but at this stage he is untested and unproven as a playmaker and certainly his combination with Jamal Fogarty needs time to develop. Fogarty is a solid NRL halfback and plenty of teams could do with a player of his calibre at No.7. However. the 29-year-old is a late bloomer who has played just 80 NRL games to date. The knock on Fogarty is that he struggles to ice close games as he failed to do in the Raiders’ finals exit against the Knights last season and without Wighton and with a rookie No.6 beside him he will be under even more pressure to lead Canberra’s attack in 2024.
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15. DRAGONS
Halves: No.6 Kyle Flanagan, No.7 Ben Hunt
Analysis: Talatau Amone’s legal troubles have thrown the race to partner Ben Hunt in the Dragons’ halves wide open in 2024. Kyle Flanagan was brought to the club as a potential dummyhalf option, but now looks set to partner Hunt in the halves. Now with 79 NRL games to his name across stints at the Sharks, Roosters and Bulldogs, Flanagan could benefit from a prolonged run in the halves alongside a seasoned campaigner in Hunt. However Flanagan has had plenty of chances to cement himself in the halves in the NRL and so far has failed to take his opportunities, so it remains to be seen if he can do so at another struggling club like the Dragons. Hunt is a lock in the Dragons’ No.7 jersey, but his future at the club is cloudy at best. Hunt requested a release from the final two years of his contract last season and while Flanagan has denied his halfback’s departure pleas, if the club keeps losing the Origin star may agitate for an exit yet again in 2024. The 33-year-old veteran of 312 NRL games is the ultimate professional, but he wants to return home to Queensland and is hardly the long-term solution for the Dragons, who may opt to let him go if they can get something in return. Zac Lomax has also put his hand up for the No.6 role while Jack Bird is another option in the halves, so the Dragons hardly have a settled scrumbase pairing going into 2024.
14. BULLDOGS
Halves: No.6 Matt Burton, No.7 Toby Sexton
Analysis: With 30 tries in 79 NRL games Matt Burton is coming into his prime years in the NRL and needs to step up and deliver as a playmaker for the Bullodgs. Burton has all the skills to be a top shelf half, but his best games in the NRL and in Origin have come at centre and he is yet to cement himself as a top line five-eighth at club level. Part of Burton’s problem is that he hasn’t been able to develop a combination with a consistent halves partner and that could come with Toby Sexton, who joined the club from the Titans late last season. The 22-year-old halfback has played just 31 NRL games and fell out of favour at the Titans, before jumping ship to the Dogs, but he has the potential to be a consistent NRL No.7. Much depends on how the rest of the Bulldogs’ 17 takes shape, but Burton and Sexton can form a successful partnership moving forward. However, at this stage the duo are yet to deliver consistent results as a playmaking partnership and only time will tell if they can in the future.
13. TITANS
Halves: No.6 Kieran Foran, No.7 Tanah Boyd
Analysis: Conjecture surrounded the potential for Jayden Campbell to switch to five-eighth to get both he and AJ Brimson in the starting team. However, new coach Des Hasler poured cold water on that plan by guaranteeing Kieran Foran the No.6 jersey in 2024, which limits his options at halfback. Unless Campbell can emulate his dad and transform into a halfback as he did at the Sharks during his career, Tanah Boyd looks like the best option at No.7. 23-year-old Boyd is the incumbent halfback and with 60 games of experience the time has come for him to take his game to a new level. However, based on what we have seen from him so far in the NRL there are doubts he can reach the heights of the elite halfbacks. Foran will turn 34 next season in what will likely be his NRL swan song as he looks to join the 300 club, currently sitting on 282 games. Foran is one of the toughest players in the NRL, but there is no doubt his body has taken a beating and his best years in the game are well behind him. However, he deserves to go out on his own terms and the Titans need his experience and he is still their best option in the halves. Still, if Boyd can’t deliver it will be interesting to see if Hasler doesn’t relent and bring Campbell into a playmaker role at some point.
12. KNIGHTS
Halves: No.6 Tyson Gamble, No.7 Jackson Hastings
Analysis: Willie Mason wasn’t exactly a fan of the Knights’ scrumbase duo in 2023, but they did help propel the Knights to a fifth-place finish and to within a game of the preliminary final. Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings deserve first crack at the halves spots for the Knights next season, but they will face a challenge from Jack Cogger after his brilliant season for the Panthers, which saw him play off the bench in the premiership decider against the Broncos. At 27, Gamble has played 49 NRL games for the Tigers, Broncos and Knights, but 2023 was his first year as a regular starter when Kalyn Ponga returned to fullback. Hastings has played 85 NRL games for the Roosters, Sea Eagles, Tigers and Knights as well as 87 games in the Super League for Salford and Wigan, but the 27-year-old has failed to reach the heights of his stint overseas where he won the Man of Steel award, since returning to Australia. Cogger who is set for his second stint at the Knights has played 55 NRL games for Newcastle, the Bulldogs and the Panthers since his debut in 2016 and has played 27 games for Huddersfield in the Super League. After developing his craft alongside the best No.7 in the game in Nathan Cleary, Cogger will keep the incumbent halves pairing honest next season, but based on what they did last year, Hastings and Gamble deserve to start the 2024 season.
11. DOLPHINS
Halves: No.6 Kodi Nikorima, No.7 Sean O’Sullivan
Analysis: The Dolphins are not short on options in the halves and have plenty of depth, but on form Kodi Nikorima and Sean O’Sullivan were their best playmakers last season. Nikorima found himself covering fullback, hooker and even centre last year, but his best position was at No.6. The 29-year-old veteran has played 181 NRL games to date for the Broncos, Warriors, Souths and Dolphins and has the experience the young Dolphins side desperately needs in the halves. O’Sullivan came of age in his premiership winning season with the Panthers in 2022 working with Nathan Cleary. His first season with the Dolphins was marred by a long-term injury, but he finished the season strongly and deserves first crack at the No.7 jersey in 2024. Now with 46 NRL games to his name for the Roosters, Broncos, Warriors, Panthers and Dolphins, the 25-year-old journeymen has the opportunity to cement himself as the Dolphins’ chief playmaker. Keeping the duo honest will be five-eighth Anthony Milford, a veteran of 217 NRL games for the Raiders, Broncos, Knights and Dolphins and 19-year-old young gun Isaiya Katoa who played 22 games in his rookie season in 2023.
10. RABBITOHS
Halves: No.6 Cody Walker, No.7 Lachlan Ilias
Analysis: The Rabbitohs’ starting halves are at the opposite ends of their careers and will both be under plenty of pressure in 2024 for different reasons. Five-eighth Cody Walker turns 34 next season and has now played 191 NRL games since his debut in 2016. Since Adam Reynolds’ switch to the Broncos, Walker is now the chief playmaker and Souths need more from him if they are to break their premiership drought. Walker proved he is still an elite playmaker with a starring role for the Blues in Origin III last year, but Souths need more consistency from him at club level to contend for the title. The extra pressure on Walker is due to the fact halfback Lachlan Ilias is still early in his development and has a lot improvement left in him, particularly with his kicking game. The 23-year-old has now played 51 NRL games and needs to start showing more improvement in his skills and leadership in the No.7 hot seat. Adding to the pressure on Ilias is the fact that Souths went from a preliminary final in 2022 to missing the finals last season and patience is running out. Former Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton is joining the club as a centre in 2023 after 242 games for Canberra. However, Souths are well stocked at centre with Campbell Graham and Isaiah Tass and if Ilias and Souths struggle early in the year, under fire coach Jason Demetriou may be forced to revert to shifting Walker to halfback and playing Wighton in his preferred position at No.6.
9. COWBOYS
Halves: No.6 Tom Dearden, No.7 Chad Townsend
Analysis: After stunning the NRL in 2022 to lead the Cowboys to within a whisker of a grand final, Tom Dearden, Chad Townsend and North Queensland came crashing back to earth last season to miss the finals. As a halves pairing Dearden and Townsend started slowly and when they found some form late in the season it was already too late. 22-year-old Dearden has now played 80 NRL games for the Broncos and Cowboys and has shown he has all the skills and the attitude to be an elite playmaker as he showed in his Origin debut in 2022. However, with Townsend entering the final year of his contract, the time has come for Dearden to take more ownership of the side in 2024. Townsend will be 33 next season and could potentially play on, but with 242 NRL games for the Sharks, Warriors and Cowboys, including a premiership in 2016 his best days as an NRL playmaker are behind him. Young gun Thomas Duffy is highly regarded and will push for an NRL debut in 2024, with an eye to taking over from Townsend when he decides to hang up the boots.
8. SHARKS
Halves: No.6 Braydon Trindall, No.7 Nicho Hynes
Analysis: The Sharks had a new look halves pairing last season with Braydon Trindall taking Matt Moylan’s place at five-eighth. The 24-year-old deserved his chance to be a regular starter having played 51 NRL games and now has the chance to cement a starting place in the side in the coming seasons. Trindall is traditionally a halfback, which gives him the ability to both create with his passing and kicking as well as threaten with his running game. After winning the Dally M Medal in 2022, Nicho Hynes’ form dipped last season, particularly after he was dropped after Origin I, but he still had a more than solid year. The 27-year-old has now played 82 NRL games and has represented his state and country and he is coming into the prime years for NRL playmakers. Hynes has a brilliant running game stemming form his time at fullback for the Storm and if he can continue to improve his kicking and passing games his best years as an NRL half are still ahead of him. Moylan enters the final year of his Sharks deal in 2024 and will keep Trindall honest and provide excellent cover if injuries strike, but his best years in the NRL are well behind him.
7. WARRIORS
Halves: No.6 Luke Metcalf, No.7 Shaun Johnson
Analysis: Shaun Johnson went from nearly being forced into retirement in 2022 to within a whisker of a Dally M Medal in 2023 in a stunning comeback season that extended his career for another year. So stunning was Johnson’s form reversal that the Warriors had no less than five halves signed to fill the void if he didn’t fire last year. But fire he did and Johnson now has the chance to go out of the game on his terms after 252 NRL games for the Warriors and Sharks since his debut in 2011. Johnson had a few halves partners in 2023, but the most impressive was Luke Metcalf, who scored six tries in 12 games. Injury has so far ravaged the 24-year-old’s 18-game NRL career for the Sharks and Warriors, but if he can get some luck next season, he can mount a case for a contract extension as he enters the final year of his current Warriors deal. Johnson’s impending retirement gives a number of halves the chance to push to fill the void next season and beyond. Te Maire Martin played just nine games in his first season with the Warriors, but is signed long-term and will push hard for a spot in the halves in 2024. Martin has played 77 NRL games for the Panthers, Cowboys, Broncos and Warriors since his debut in 2016. 24-year-old Chanel Harris-Tavita returns from a gap year in 2024 and will look to add to his 54 NRL games and could be an option at both five-eighth and halfback in the coming seasons. 21-year-old Ronald Volkman is seen as a potential successor to Johnson at halfback having played five games in his first two seasons for the club. Dylan Walker is another option at five-eighth, but given they are well stocked in the halves he is more than likely to stick to the utility role he has made his own in recent seasons.
6. SEA EAGLES
Halves: No.6 Luke Brooks, No.7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Analysis: Manly will field a new halves combination in 2024 with former Tigers halfback Luke Brooks brought to the club on a four-year deal to play five-eighth after a 205-game career at Concord. Brooks was often a scapegoat at the basket case club and gets a great opportunity alongside Australian and Queensland halfback Daly Cherry-Evans to prove just how good he can be. Brooks can develop his skills as a playmaker alongside Cherry-Evans with a view to taking over the No.7 jersey when he hangs up the boots. Brooks’ best attribute is his running game, so playing alongside Cherry-Evans could bring out the best in him in 2024. Cherry-Evans turns 35 in 2024 and after 305 games for the club he has shown no signs of slowing down and he could play beyond his current contract which expires in 2025. The ultimate professional, Cherry-Evans has all the skills and is still one of the best halfbacks in the game. Brooks could also ease the playmaking load on Cherry-Evans and bring back his devastating running game. Manly seem to have abandoned plans for Josh Schuster to play five-eighth, but he still has potential in the halves should injuries strike.
5. ROOSTERS
Halves: No.6 Luke Keary, No.7 Sam Walker
Analysis: It was anything but smooth sailing for the Roosters’ halves in 2023, but Sam Walker and Luke Keary showed what they can do at the back end of the year in the club’s late charge to the finals. After standout seasons in 2021 and 2022, Walker was dropped early last season and only played 10 games taking his career tally to 56. But at 21, he still has a massive career ahead of him and he showed late in 2024 that he learned a lot from his time away from the top grade. Walker does things a lot of players can’t do and if he can continue to develop his defence and kicking game, his brilliant passing and instinctive running game can turn him into one of the game’s elite playmakers in the coming years. Luke Keary wound back the clock in 2023 playing 26 games, the most in a season since his first year at the Roosters back in 2017. With his concussion issues behind him, Keary showed he still has plenty to offer and despite entering the final year of his contract in 2024, the 31-year-old has proved he could well play on. Keary has done it all in 205 games for the Rabbitohs and Roosters since his debut in 2013, including three premiership wins and deserves to go out on his own terms. The Roosters also have a handy depth in the halves with Joey Manu an option at No.6 and Sandon Smith proving he can reliable in the halves as well as at dummyhalf.
4. EELS
Halves: No.6 Dylan Brown, No.7 Mitchell Moses
Analysis: After leading the Eels to the 2022 decider, Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses struggled to back it up for a variety of reasons in 2023 as Parramatta missed the finals. However, they are still one of the elite halves combinations in the NRL and have the potential to be the best in the coming seasons. With both players now locked in on long-term deals and with Brown’s legal issues behind him, the pair can focus on returning the Eels to the finals in 2024. 23-year-old Brown played just 17 games last year after he was suspended mid-season. With 99 NRL games to his name, Brown is no longer a youngster and needs to take ownership of the Eels’ team with Moses and be more consistent with his performances which can range from quiet to jaw dropping. At his best Brown can do things that other players can’t and his combination with Moses will only get better the longer they play with each other. Moses turns 30 next year and with 217 games for the Tigers and Eels he is entering the sweet spot in his career for NRL playmakers. Moses is in the top five halfbacks in the NRL and can influence a game in so many ways, but the challenge now is to do it more consistently and in the big end of season games. Daejarn Asi proved a capable back-up last season if injuries strike.
3. BRONCOS
Halves: No.6 Ezra Mam, No.7 Adam Reynolds
Analysis: They might be at opposite ends of their careers, but Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds proved one of the best combinations last season as they led the Broncos to within a whisker of a drought-breaking premiership. At 20 years of age, Mam is a freak who has scored 24 tries in just 38 games for the Broncos since his debut in 2022. His speed and elusive running game makes him the perfect foil for Reynolds. Off-contract in 2024, Mam is set for a monster pay rise in 2025 and beyond and will attract the interest of multiple clubs, so Brisbane will have their hands full to keep him. Mam was on track for the Clive Churchill Medal after his stunning second half hat-trick in the Grand Final before Nathan Cleary spoiled the party. Reynolds turns 34 next season in the final year of his contract, but is expected to play on in 2025 and possibly beyond. With 274 NRL games to his name, Reynolds is motivated to repay the faith of the Broncos and lead them to a premiership win as he did for Souths back in 2014. Cleary may have outplayed him in the Grand Final, but Reynolds is still one of the top five halfbacks in the game and his kicking game is still elite. If he can avoid injuries and hold his own in defence he can still be a valuable member of the Broncos’ side for a couple more years. Jock Madden is a serviceable halves replacement should injuries strike.
2. STORM
Halves: No.6 Cameron Munster, No.7 Jahrome Hughes
Analysis: The Storm may have been inconsistent in 2023, but there is no doubt they have arguably the best halves combination in the NRL on paper. Cameron Munster is the Australian five-eighth and Jahrome Hughes is the New Zealand halfback, which is a luxury no other team in the game can boast. Hughes turns 30 in 2024 and has played 127 NRL games to date and is in the top three halfbacks in the game. He may have been hampered by some injuries last season, but at his best Hughes is near on unstoppable with his silky passing skills and devastating running game. Munster at his best is arguably the best player in the game despite not reaching those heights consistently last season. With 195 NRL games for the Storm to date, Munster is a freak that can do things on a rugby league field most players only dream of. Munster can win matches on own with a rare ability to produce match winning plays at the right moment as he did against the Roosters in the finals. The balance of the Storm’s squad might be an issue, but with Hughes and Munster at the helm, Melbourne are the most likely team to upset the Panthers dynasty.
1. PANTHERS
Halves: No.6 Jarome Luai, No.7 Nathan Cleary
Analysis: It helps being in the best team in the NRL, but while ever Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai keep winning premierships it is hard to argue they are not the best halves combination in the game. Sure Cleary is the best player in the NRL and does a fair bit of the heavy lifting in this partnership, but the halfback’s greatness also overshadows some of the great work that his five-eighth does. At 26, Luai has played in four grand finals in his six years in the NRL and has won three titles and the large majority of his 107 games in first grade. His fancy footwork and slick kicking and passing is matched by his staunch defence and he showed his toughness to come back from a shoulder injury on route to Penrith’s three-peat. At 25, Cleary is at the peak of his powers and his prime could last for another five years at least. The No.7 has now played in four straight grand finals and won three premierships and two Clive Churchill Medals and Penrith’s dynasty shows no signs of ending any time soon. Cleary can impact the game in so many ways with his superb kicking game, his peerless passing or his underrated running game and he is the best defensive halfback in the game. The only thing that can break this combination up is if Luai chases the big dollars on offer at other clubs, but if they stay together, they will be the best halves pairing in the NRL until they either don’t make or are beaten in the last game of the season.
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