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.

6. Mitchell Moses

I fully admit to going back and forth on Moses. I had him in the top five, then as low as eight. I thought he was going to be right in the Dally M discussions in 2020 but probably didn't enjoy the season expected. In fact there's no probably about it.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Mitchell Moses of the Eels celebrates scoring a try during the round 6 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium on April 22, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

That said, Moses has all the talent in the world and hardly had a terrible 2020. Three tries, eight try assists, five line break assists, a ridiculous 20 forced drop outs, 10 offloads, and almost 450 average kicking metres per game don't make for awful reading, but I can't help but think the tries and try assist numbers are low.

Moses probably fell victim of expectation in 2020 and I have no doubt that he will excel in a big way in 2020. He's among the elite halfbacks in the competition and fits the Eels culture and system perfectly. I'm looking forward to seeing what Moses produces in 2021.

Watch Zero Tackle's own Dan Nichols over at Rugby League Outlaws

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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