NRL rosters are now so evenly matched, and deep, that games are often won by the team with the more impactful bench.
Injuries effected every club in 2024, as is unfortunately the way each and every year, and again we saw plenty of games won by utility players in a next man up role.
Today we celebrate those players.
This is going to be the hardest list to rank as each player below plays a different role.
Just some housekeeping, for a player to qualify they must have been used off the bench more often than not, or used in multiple roles.
Example: Connor Tracey is often referred to as a utility but played almost of all his games this season at fullback. He is therefore not considered.
Blaize Talagi, Lehi Hopoate and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck also don't qualify as they were all first choice backline players at some stage.
If you're looking for Terrell May, he was named in the top ten props so I have left him off this list.
Below are the top 10 utilities and/or bench specialists from the 2024 season:
Honourable Mention: Naufahu Whyte
4. Daniel Atkinson
Daniel Atkinson did it all in 2024. Almost literally!
Come off the bench and play in the middle? Absolutely! Start as the side's only recognised half? Too easy! Play centre or wing late on? Sure!
Atkinson's 19 games saw him score five tries, create four tries, run for 70 metres per game and tackle at almost 83%. Considering how many roles he was asked to play, sometimes in short stints, these are insane numbers.
There's a reason the Dragons are chasing him so aggressively. The Sharks won't want to lose him for 2025.
