Best 13 players ahead of restart

Christopher Reive looks at the form XIII of the soon-to-resume NRL premiership

1 Kalyn Ponga ( Knights) Ponga is an attacking threat with the ball, regardless of what end of the field he’s in. He also provides a sound kicking option in open play, and his defence has been strong.

2 David Nofoaluma ( Tigers) Showing his ability to finish plays off as well as set the tone with his running game, he has been a workhorse through the opening two rounds, averaging more than 180m per game.

3 Kotoni Staggs (Broncos) Leading the competition with four tries, Staggs’ strength has proven to be an asset for the Broncos out wide. As well as topping the tryscorers chart, he has also broken the line the most times (three).

4 Esan Marsters (Cowboys) Kiwi Marsters has exploited plenty of space and run for more than 350m which is far and away the most for a centre through the opening two rounds.

5 Nick Cotric (Raiders) Cotric has always been a good footy player, but consistency has been something lacking in his game over the past couple of years. He started 2020 off in the right way, making a name for himself as one of the most damaging wingers in the game. With more than 20 tackle busts, at least 10 more than the next best, Cotric is making his presence felt.

6 Dylan Brown ( Eels) Sidelined for much of last season through injury, the young Kiwis star is now showing why a number of teams were after his signature. Still finding his footing in first grade, Brown’s running game has worked in perfect tandem with the playmaking of Mitchell Moses. But he hasn’t just provided an extra threat in Parramatta’s attack; he has also been a reliable defender.

7 Mitchell Pearce (Knights) Of the 11 tries Newcastle have scored this season, Pearce has assisted in five. Now in his 14th season of first grade, the veteran playmaker and 2013 premiership winner with the Roosters continues to produce at the highest level and create opportunities for his teammates.

8 Thomas Flegler (Broncos) Flegler has made the most of his opportunity in the starting side for the Broncos early in the season, with some crunching tackles and plenty of work on attack. In his second year at the top level, he’s yet to miss a tackle this season, has the most tackle busts of any prop (10), and has flashed his offloading ability on occasion.

9 Apisai Koroisau ( Panthers) Koroisau’s second stint in Penrith has started in the best possible way. The club is unbeaten through their first two games and Koroisau leads the competition in made tackles and has provided a spark on attack.

10 Alex Twal ( Tigers) It’s a tall task to outperform Brisbane gun prop Payne Hass, but through the first two rounds of competition you can’t leave out Twal of a form team. Averaging 59 minutes per game, the 23-year-old is leading the way in the tackle count with 91

— 15 more than the next best — and has missed just one. Yet to commit an error, Twal is doing plenty of work with ball in hand, too, averaging about 120m and a couple of tackle busts per game.

11 Josh Jackson (Bulldogs) The captain has again earned his tag as one of the hardest working forwards in the game.

12 Isaah Yeo ( Panthers) Dogged by injuries last season, Yeo still proved to be a handful and has been able to show that again to start 2020. Defensively he has been great — yet to miss a tackle in 68 attempts — while his ball-playing and running ability has impressed.

13 Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) No surprises here. Game after game, season after season, Taumalolo puts his head down and runs over the top of his opposition. Leading the league in running metres with almost 500m in just two games, the 2016 Dally M medallist has again been at his battering best. What makes that number more impressive is the fact he has broken the line only once.