The NRL has never been as skilled as it is right now, with the majority of its big dogs under the age of 30.

Nathan Cleary has four premierships at just 27 years old. Tom Dearden is the incumbent five-eighth of the Queensland Maroons as a 23-year-old. Stephen Crichton, who is only 24, is one of the best captains in the league.

With so many premium footballers already cementing themselves as the best of the best at such a young age and a few emerging superstars rising through the ranks, who will be leading the charge come 2030 in the NRL?

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1. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)

2023 NRL Grand Final - Panthers v Broncos
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Nathan Cleary of the Panthers celebrates scoring a try during the 2023 NRL Grand Final match between Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos at Accor Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Not only will Nathan Cleary still be the best rugby league player on the planet in 2030, but he will perhaps be one of the greatest footballers of all time, if not the greatest.

Four premierships, two Clive Churchills, three Origin shields, and a World Cup win. This already cements him as one of the greatest players of all time, yet he is only 27.

There hasn't been a rugby league player that has instilled as much fear in their opponents since Andrew Johns, and even he hadn't achieved as much as Cleary by 27.

The Penrith Panthers show no signs of slowing down, and even if they do, the four-time premiers still have at least two more premierships in them before 2030.

Cleary will be 32 in five years, a primetime age for most halfbacks. With players like Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk, and Adam Reynolds all aging like fine wine as they reached the backends of their careers, there is no doubt the Panthers captain will enjoy the same trajectory. With half a decade more of experience to his name, the Dally M halfback will still be terrorising defences and stressing out coaches as he enters his thirties.

 

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