The halves positions are the most impactful positions to a team's success.
Forwards have to make metres to allow the halves to succeed and centres and wingers have to finish opportunities created by the halves, but everything comes back to the halves.
A team's success and failure sits on the shoulders of the two halves. This is why young halves require time to find their way in the NRL (looking at you, Canterbury Bulldogs) and usually don't succeed until at least their mid-twenties.
This is why the names below are so highly regarded and worthy of mention. These are the five best five-eighths and halfbacks in the NRL aged 22 and under.
1. Dylan Brown - 21
After an incredible start to his career, Brown was a victim of second-year syndrome. While his struggles were blown out of proportion with media screaming about his lack of try assists, there is no doubt he wasn't at his best in 2021.
So far in 2022, it has been a far different story.
In seven games this year, Brown has tallied up three tries, seven try assists, four line break assists and 122 run metres a game while being one of the best defenders in the competition.
One of the best five-eighths in the competition and at only 21, Brown is a special talent.
