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Ask any athlete in any sport what their favourite individual award is to receive and they’ll tell you the one decided by their peers.
The Dally M Medal is decided by former players but the people in the best position to declare who’s the best player in the NRL are the blokes running into each other.
Take Nathan Cleary for example, the Panthers halfback has been the world’s best player for several years now but he’s still yet to win a Dally M Medal.
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Fox League asked 60 current NRL players to rank who they believe are the best of the best in the competition and we tallied the votes to compile a top 10 list.
Here are the players ranked 10-6 in the NRL, according to their peers.
10. Stephen Crichton
The new Bulldogs captain is just 23 but he’s already scored a try in four grand finals and won three premierships.
Crichton forced his way into a stacked NSW backline in 2022 and the centre has played in every game from the past two Origin series. Oh, and he’s played in a World Cup final.
It will be interesting to see how Crichton goes at a struggling club, with premiership winners Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau and Josh Addo-Carr so far unable to turn Canterbury’s fortunes around.
It will also be interesting to see where he plays, with under-pressure coach Cameron Ciraldo vowing to start the Samoan international in the centres. But we’re tipping he’ll end up at fullback.
Until then, Crichton will reunite with Panthers premiership-winning teammates on a lethal left-edge that also includes Kikau, Burton and Addo-Carr.
9. James Tedesco
The Australian captain might be on the wrong side of 30 but he still has the respect of his peers after a tumultuous 12 months.
The star-studded Roosters looked certain to miss finals last year before Tedesco led the side on a five-game winning run that clinched their top-eight spot in the final round.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga stuck solid with his fullback for the Pacific Championships but Tedesco’s side was humiliated 30-0 in the final.
There will be no shortage of competition coming for his NSW No. 1 jersey in 2024 with new coach Michael Maguire declaring a new selection slate.
Tedesco remains one of the premier fullbacks in the NRL but he’s off contract at the end of 2025 and could hit the open market this November.
8. Harry Grant
The new Storm skipper’s rise has been meteoric and he thoroughly deserves his top 10 finish on this decorated list.
Grant is the best hooker in the NRL and has played a key role in the success of Melbourne, Queensland and Australia since making his NRL debut in 2018.
The 26-year-old is a natural footballer who plays off instinct and can run teams into the ground out of dummyhalf.
Grant enjoyed one of the best Origin debuts of all-time in 2020 when he came off the bench in the decider to score the series-winning try.
Craig Bellamy hand picked this future Maroons captain to lead the Storm this year in what will likely be the legendary coach’s final season and therefore final crack at winning one last premiership.
7. James Fisher-Harris
This fearsome front-rower doesn’t say much but his football does plenty of talking and JFH clearly has the respect of his teammates and rivals alike.
The Eels were bold enough to declare before the 2022 grand final that they were going to expose Penrith through the middle.
Fisher-Harris, alongside his prop partner Moses Leota, took it personally and the duo single-handedly turned the decider in Penrith’s favour with a ruthless opening 20 minutes.
The New Zealand star has won three premierships and captained his country to a record 30-0 victory over Australia last November.
The ‘Fish’ might not be the top ranked prop on this list but having just turned 28 he’s absolutely in his prime.
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6. Shaun Johnson
This Kiwi superstar proved age is just a number last year and was the red-hot favourite to win the Dally M Medal before he was pipped at the post by Kalyn Ponga.
But 2023 was still a sensational season for Johnson and the Warriors as the 33-year-old led the club to their first preliminary final in 12 years.
The silky smooth halfback burst into the NRL in 2011 and more than a decade later still commands the respect of his rivals.
After leading the Warriors to a top-four finish last season, Johnson has already dared to dream even bigger and told foxsports.com.au earlier this month “imagine if that’s just the baseline”.
SJ will need to catch fire again this year if the Warriors’ resurrection is to continue, but you’d be a brave man to doubt him.
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