Just like the teams they play for, every year players move forward, and some move backwards.
Whether it be their form, their ladder position, every season is a year of fluctuations. So while some players reach the end of the line or hit a rough form patch, others breakout and enjoy career-best years, catch the eyes of fans and coaches alike.
While some sides struggled, even the worst sides had players on the up, whether it be a rookie growing into themselves, or an established star reaching a new level, every club had a player that got better this season.
It feels like too obvious an answer, but who else?
The Cronulla halfback hadn't even spent an entire season as a starting player, let alone with the No. 7 on his back, yet the former Storm premiership-winner shone in 2022 in everything Cronulla did, and is one of the key reasons the club finished the regular season in 2nd.
Now a Dally M medallist, it's crazy to think Nicho has a lot more improvement left in him yet.
