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.

7. Mitchell Pearce

The Newcastle number seven played a huge part in seeing the Knights return to finals football in 2020. His 21 games saw him set up 11 tries, assist 10 line breaks, force 10 drop outs, cross for two tries, kick for 364 metres per game and tackle at over 80%.

Pearce can consider himself extremely unlucky not to have been included in this year's Origin series after finally ending his series winless streak last year. His performances put him in the discussion.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 29: Mitchell Pearce of the Newcastle Knights looks to pass the ball during the round 15 NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the Brisbane Broncos at McDonald Jones Stadium on June 29, 2019 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

The Knights half played well in 2020 considering his never really had a full-time halves partner. Kurt Mann was his best bet although Watson, Lino and Green all spent time in the pivot merry-go-round.

Along with Ponga, he's the absolute lynchpin for the Knights and is key to any success they may enjoy.

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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