NRL — BRYCE CARTWRIGHT (PENRITH)

It was men against boys at times when Bryce got the ball. He started 2016 carving it up in the backrow and should have won a NSW spot, then shifted to fiveeighth, striking a combo with dominant half Nathan Cleary (who was unlucky not to get rookie of the year). Cartwright has all the skills — speed, power, offload, kicking game — and this was his breakout season.