2023 was a year of big changes right across the NRL.

From a new team, to the improvement of the Warriors and Knights, to other teams like the Rabbitohs, Eels and Cowboys being on a slippery slope to the bottom, there was plenty to keep track of week to week.

A season like that is always going to bring contrasting ideals for a number of players, and there were some who made major leaps forward on their careers.

For some, it has already new contracts signed, while for others, potential has been fulfilled. For one, you could argue it was a career-saving season.

Here are the ten most improved players from the 2023 NRL season.

8. Billy Walters (Brisbane Broncos)

Walters came into the 2023 campaign not really knowing whether he would be the starting nine for more than a few weeks. He had competition from Cory Paix, who played off the bench during the first part, as well as Tyson Smoothy, who had impressed with the Storm before being named the QLD Cup player of the year with the Sunshine Coast Falcons.

It was that form which saw Smoothy picked up by the Broncos on a deal for the 2023 campaign.

Then there was also the ever growing presence of Blake Mozer, who has been rated by a number of good judges as the next coming of Cameron Smith.

So it was fair to say Walters had his work cut out for him if he wanted to be the first-choice number nine at Red Hill under father Kevin's coaching for the entirety of the season.

But by the mid-way point of the year, he had cemented that role, and will now go into 2024 as just that. A grand final team's first choice hooker.