Itโs undoubtedly true that every successful NRL side has a strong spine - the spine players inject creativity, guidance and structure, and touch the ball more than any other player on the field.
The fullback, halfback, five-eighth and hooker control all of the action, direct traffic and are normally the best players on the park, receiving much of the credit when things go right, but equally much of the backlash when things go wrong.
In recent years, the NRL has been blessed with some of the greatest ever spine talent, with Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Jake Friend (to name a few) as well as current megastars Nathan Cleary, James Tedesco and Daly Cherry-Evans.
With 2022 set to be as fast, physical and competitive as ever, the sides with the best spines will continue to blow bottom sides out of the water.
Remembering that this is a ranking of spines rather than a ladder prediction, here is how we view each of the club's best spine options for 2022.
4. (13) Newcastle Knights
Kalyn Ponga, Adam Clune, Jake Clifford, Chris Randall (Jayden Brailey)
A few weeks ago the Knights were higher on this list. The off-season has really hurt the Knights spine-wise, but thereโs still plenty of opportunity to succeed in 2022.
Granted, losing skipper Jayden Brailey to another injury is tough, and Mitchell Pearceโs departure will force Jake Clifford to step up this season.
However, the Knights have Ponga, and when thereโs a Ponga, thereโs a way. I donโt think that the Knights or Ponga really figured out the role he should play on the field in 2021, but if they can get it right, Ponga could have a Trbojevic-like season.
Iโve liked the look of Randall's tough tackling style in the few games heโs played thus far, and Adam Clune will benefit from an extended run in the starting side and will hopefully start to hit his straps as a game manager.
