The best and most important players in the NRL are often spine players.

All of the top teams have a number of excellent players in the spine, and the Dally M Medal count was dominated by spine players in 2021.

While fullback Tom Trbojevic won it, the top five was made up of halves Nathan Cleary, Cody Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans, while another fullback rounded it out with James Tedesco finishing fifth.

All of those players are at the peak of their powers, and their teams made up those going deep into the finals.

There could be a change a foot for 2022 though, with a few bottom-eight teams from 2021 appearing in the top eight of this list.

Yesterday, we ran through the bottom eight spines in the competition, and now, it's time for the top eight.

Here is the list.

6. Manly Sea Eagles

Tom Trbojevic, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Lachlan Croker

Does Tom Trbojevic repeat 2021 or tear a hamstring in Round 1? These seem to be the two eventualities for the Sea Eagles, who could easily be ranked higher on this list.

When Trbojevic is on, more often than not, Manly score 50 points. However, with his injury history, be wary of over-hyping the Sea Eagles just yet.

Moreover, with Cherry-Evans at 33 and Foran having consistent injuries over the back end of his career, injury and unavailability looms a threat, especially around a packed Origin schedule.

Croker, not a renowned number nine. will be vital in keeping the forward pack rolling and helping the side win the close affairs which eluded them last season. Plenty of promise for Des Hasler.