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Nathan Cleary: The introvert who “just feels normal” when he’s holding a Steeden.

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The best 50 players in the NRL in 2025

We asked a panel of experts including legends of the game and rugby league journalists to rank the greatest players.

5 stories
NRL Top 50, 10-1
  • Analysis

NRL’s top 50 players: We reveal the No.1 player in the game

Expert judges from this masthead and Nine’s Wide World of Sports have combined to produce the definitive list of the top 50 players in the NRL. Today, we reveal the top ten.

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NRL stars Angus Crichton, Jarome Luai, Cameron Munster and Reece Walsh.
  • Analysis

NRL’s top 50 players: Numbers 20 to 11

Expert judges from this masthead and Nine’s Wide World of Sports have combined to produce the definitive list of the top 50 players in the NRL. Today it’s numbers 20 to 11.

Top 50 - NRL 30 to 21
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NRL’s top 50 players: Numbers 30 to 21

Experts from this masthead and Nine’s Wide World of Sports have produced the definitive list of the NRL’s top 50 players. Today, numbers 30 to 21.

Top 50 - 40 to 31
  • Analysis

NRL’s top 50 players: Numbers 40 to 31

Expert judges from this masthead and Nine’s Wide World of Sports have combined to produce the definitive list of the top 50 players in the NRL. Today, we count down from 40 to 31.

Top 50 - 50 to 41
  • Analysis

NRL’s top 50 players: Counting down rugby league’s best of the best

Expert judges from this masthead and Nine’s Wide World of Sports have combined to produce the definitive list of the top 50 players in the NRL. We kick off with numbers 50 to 41.

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The 2026 MICF has kicked off

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2026

This year’s laugh fest has kicked off, with more than 2000 performers stepping up to the mic. Here, our writers take a closer look

  • 10 stories
Sam Mitchell flies the flag after Matthew Lloyd’s hit on Brad Sewell.

Hate of origin: Inside football’s most intense rivalry

Essendon and Hawthorn have hated each other for more than 40 years, from some old-fashioned thuggery and a fake drug scandal in the mid-80s to last year’s failed bid by the Hawks to poach the Bombers’ captain.

  • 5 stories