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.

3. Sydney Roosters

James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Sam Walker, Sam Verrills

The Roosters, with the likely Australian captain James Tedesco, the injury-prone yet brilliant Luke Keary, plus teen prodigy Sam Walker and premiership rake Sam Verrills should return to the 2022 top four.

Having missed experience and class in the halves last year and numerous major injury crises, Tedesco carried the Roosters on his back and the club still nearly made the top four.

In 2022, Walker and Verrills will continue to develop (under a little less pressure now) and with a fit team, the Walker-Keary halves partnership should steady and calm the side.

Thereโ€™s a lot to look forward to for Roosters fans, especially with Brandon Smith on the way in 2023.