A successful recruitment drive can transform a side in a season. It can be the difference between a top-eight finish and a second bite of the cherry.
On the flip side, losing an important player can hinder a side and see them regress, sometimes quickly.
Heading into the 2022 season we saw the Bulldogs undertake one of the most aggressive recruitment drives in recent memory.
Across Sydney you had the Sharks shaking the ranks both on and off the field.
Brisbane landed the biggest fish of all, at least in terms of stature and contract value, when they announced the signing of Adam Reynolds.
Some big names flourished while others floundered. A number of recruits saw their careers take off and their sides benefit as a result. Others took up big chunks of the salary cap whilst offering little.
Below are the top five recruits based on their 2022 seasons. This doesn't only take into account pure results. For instance, some teams were building and despite not playing finals footy are now in better positions than this time last year due to a recruit's effort.
4. Jamal Fogarty
Fogarty will be the biggest surprise to most on this list. That said, if he had avoided injury and placed a full season, he may have ranked even higher.
It is no coincidence that the Raiders' season really kicked into gear upon the return to the field of Fogarty.
The Raiders went five from eleven before Fogarty's debut for his new club. Since then they have only lost four games in fourteen matches.
3 tries, 10 try assists, 13 forced drop outs and an almost 91% tackling percentage, Fogarty has been the perfect foil for Jack Wighton.
Canberra needed a creative halfback. They took a huge punt on signing the out of favour Titan. There's no doubt Fogarty delivered in a big way.
If he had played the entire season, Canberra don't need to go on a near flawless run across the final 10 games. They instead push for the top four. Of that I have no doubt.
He'll play a huge part in the Raiders' finals run. A run he had a massive say in orchestrating.
