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.

5. George Williams

I know, I know, he only had one season in the NRL. That said, I'd argue that Williams enjoyed a far better 2020 than the two Mitchell's before him and therefore earns his spot in the top five halfbacks in the competition right now.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: George Williams of the Raiders celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during the NRL Elimination Final match between the Canberra Raiders and the Cronulla Sharks at GIO Stadium on October 03, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Across his first 22 games in the NRL he scored seven tries, set up 15, laid on four line break assists, forced 19 drop outs, kicked for over 232 metres per game and tackled at over 88%. A pretty handy debut season for the competition.

With all due respect to Sam Williams, the Raiders felt a creative halfback short last year in their contest with the Roosters. They now have that with George Williams.

A second pre-season with the Canberra squad will do him the world of good. Watch out for the Williams led Raiders again in 2021.

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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