FROM 40 TO 31
40: James Bell: Earned rave reviews for his displays in a struggling Leigh team. A strong ball carrier who can also play with the ball, the New Zealander had a superb first season in Super League.
39: Peter Mata’utia: The centre played a pivotal role in getting Castleford on the front foot.
Ended the year near the top of the tackle bust charts while his average metres per carry was among the highest in the competition.
A return of five tries in 17 games was also his best return.
38: Matt Parcell: Parcell has recaptured some of his devastating best form at KR and re-established himself as one of the best number nines.
Ended second in the competition charts for runs from dummy half and sixth for tackle busts.
37: Jordan Turner: Utility man viewed by some as a jack of all trades, but proved a valuable member of the Cas squad in 2021.
Turner scored 13 tries in 16 outings and ended the season as arguably Super League’s best pound-forpound signing.
36: Matt Prior: A player who put his hand up week after week.
The Australian prop played in 23 of Leeds’ 26 Super League games, with only Covid preventing him from being an ever-present. The kind of man you want alongside you in the trenches.
35: Mike Mcmeeken: The 27-year-old was a picture of consistency with Catalans.
Helped the club pick up the
League Leaders’ Shield by bagging nine tries, in a season in which he more than underlined why he is considered to be one of the best back-rowers in the competition.
34: Julian Bousquet: Few embodied the passion in the badge like Bousquet, a cornerstone of the Dragons pack since making his debut in 2012.
The prop regularly churned out in excess of 100m with the ball this season and was a solid presence in defence.
33: Ryan Hall: Cemented his status as one of Super League’s greatest-ever wingers in 2021.
The 33-year-old scored 16 tries in 23 games.
32: Ben Garcia: Only made 14 appearances for the Dragons, but when he has been on the field his presence through the middle has been palpable.
31: Manu Ma’u: Has been one of Hull FC’S best performers this year, a reliable presence on Hull’s left edge, and provided an experienced head when it was needed.