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.

8. Michael Morgan

It feels almost criminal to have the Cowboys superstar this far down the list, but having missed large portions of the 2020 season it's a little case of "out of sight, out of mind" perhaps.

In his six games last year, for a pretty ordinary Cowboys outfit, he scored two tries, set up three, had two line break assists and forced two drop outs. He also had 11 tackle breaks and over 250 kicking metres per game.

WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 28: Michael Morgan of the Cowboys runs the ball during the round 15 NRL match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the North Queensland Cowboys at WIN Stadium on June 28, 2019 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Make no mistake, the Cowboys will be a far better side in 2021 with their star playmaker back at the helm. His performances at halfback to date have been outstanding, with his best footy coming when shifted to seven in 2017 after Thurston's injury.

The Cowboys enter the season feeling as though they have a new marquee recruit given his injury ravaged 2020. Big season ahead.

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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