For the purpose of this list we've only named players known primarily as halfbacks. For instance we know Shaun Johnson is an excellent halfback when called upon but is very much known as a six.

9. Kyle Flanagan

For the life of me I just don't understand the move by the Roosters to move young Flanagan on so quickly. I thought he had a brilliant 2020 season all things considered. Stepping up into the hot seat after just nine first grade games and stepping into a jersey vacated by one of the all time greats, I thought he handled it very well.

In 2020 he crossed for four tries, kicked 91 goals at over 80%, laid on 11 try assists, created nine line breaks and kicked for over 250 metres per game. This as the Rooster's less dominant half. I honestly don't know what more he could have done.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Kyle Flanagan of the Roosters attempts to kick a goal during the NRL Qualifying Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters at Panthers Stadium on October 02, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

He was leading the point scoring by a fair margin before he was dropped. As it was he finished as the third top point-scorer despite playing three less games than those around him on the table.

A huge get for the Bulldogs. Canterbury have finally found their long-term number seven. The Roosters have some talented youngsters but I feel they may have made an error here.

5 COMMENTS

  2. With every good halfback, there needs to be a good 5/8th ,to take some pressure off of their halves partner. It also needs to be the right one. Cleary didnโ€™t look so good playing alongside Maloney. Where as NSW was better with Maloney there?
    As good as Cleary may have been in 2020. NSW didnโ€™t win the S.O.O. & Penrith didnโ€™t win the Grand Final. What can we take from that?
    D.C.E. Inspired a S.O.O. series win for Queensland.
    Hughes inspired grand final win for Melbourne.
    Or were both wins just because of Munster at 5/8th?
    I thought Luai was great for Penrith for most of the season, at 5/8th.
    So was there something lacking with Cleary in the biggest of games? He didnโ€™t
    Inspire a Win.

  3. You nailed it, his half partner in Origin was disgraceful. Cody Walker is a myth. Also, apart from game 3, Cleary did have a good series.

  4. If Wighton has another start of season anywhere close to his form last year, he will be the 6 for the SOO, not Walker. Walker had an amazing game 2, but so did the whole team. In the last 10 minutes if game 3 when Cody got injured and Wighton was shifted…Wighten looked dangerous every time he had the ball. I think Turbo will be back in the side, with another specialist centre, maybe Staggs or Crighton. Which will shift Wighton to partner Cleary in the halves.

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