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
The Cowboys big man really came into his own in 2024. So much so that he signed a one year extension to his contract, with many seasons to come.
In his 26 appearances for the Cowboys, 18 came from the bench. His starts were good but his true monster games came from the bench.
Those 26 games saw him average almost 110 run metres and tackle at almost 92%. His 178 run metres and a try against the Dragons in Round Three being the highlight of the year.
At only 23 year's of age, the future is super bright for the three time capped Kiwi rep.
The Manly hardhead almost single-handedly saved the kickoff in 2024.
He quickly became a cult favourite at Brookvale Oval due to his, literal, returning restarts from the back fence.
19 of his 23 appearances came from the bench in 2024. In those 23 games he ran for over 110 metres per game and tackles at almost 89%.
I was skeptical of the signing by the Sea Eagles but fair to say Brown rewarded the faith in 2024.
The Eels bound middle tied on a bow on his Sharks tenure with a brilliant 2024 season.
As a Sharks fan I will never forget how quickly he turned that game against Canberra. He was 100% responsible for shifting momentum and leading his side to overturning an 18-point deficit.
His round 23 performance against the Storm saw him run for 218 metres. It was one of the individual efforts of the season.
Averaging almost 100 metres and being able to play prop, lock or second row, he will be an invaluable addition to the Eels in 2025.
The Bunnies couldn't deliver a positive send-off for the last of the Burgess brothers, but Tom put in an almighty shift in 2024.
His 93 run metres per game are heavily skewed by some short stints later in the season as Souths pivoted. He was much, much more important than that stat indicates.
His Round six effort against the Sharks, in an easily beaten side, saw him trample all in front of him en route to 160+ metres and a try.
It's hard to imagine a Souths side without a Burgess running out in 2025.
To some, the Panthers bench specialist's selection in the Kangaroos side came as a surprise. To be honest, it shouldn't have.
Smith's efforts, mainly off the bench, were huge for Penrith in 2024.
In 27 games, 19 of which came from the bench, saw him top 100 run metres per game and tackle at over 96%.
He'll have made his Australian debut by the time this drops and I have no doubt he'll be equally as reliable in the rep arena as he has been for the Panthers.
Spencer Leniu arrived in Bondi promising big things. After a shaky start, he very much delivered!
His numbers are going to be skewed due to his lengthy suspension, which was of his own doing.
His 17 games, ten from the bench, saw him bust 52 tackles, average over 85 run metres per game and tackle at 97%.
His numbers will improve next season but his impact from the bench cannot be doubted.
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.
I wasn't 100% certain I'd include Plath here as he's a pure middle forward.
That said, his utility value in his "rookie" (NRL's words, not mine) season made him simply impossible to ignore.
21 appearances, split between lock and hooker, as well as his debut from the bench, saw him score four times, break 32 tackles, run for over 80 metres per game and tackle at over 94%.
Super impressive from a player who entered the 2024 season with just two games under his belt. He is now a huge part of the Phins moving forward.
In terms of pure, utility value, Connor Watson may be the NRL's best. Second best, at worst!
He was asked to play off the bench, in the halves, in the middle and in the halves in 2024 and I doubt he would have it any other way.
His 21 games for the Roosters saw him score twice, break 43 tackles, run for 90 metres per game and tackle at almost 95%.
He also did his job to perfection in both of his Origin appearances in 2024. The ultimate utility.
If Connor Watson isn't the game's best utility, the Storm superstar certainly is.
NRL stats have him listed as having officially played halfback, five-eighth and hooker, as well as listed as an interchange player, but he also played fullback, wing, centre and in the middle at times.
26 appearances saw a return of 12 tries, four try assists, 13 offloads, 80 run metres per game, six forced dropouts, a tackle percentage of almost 92% and he even chipped in with 14 goals.
Wishart is the best interchange player in the comp because he can literally do it all. The Storm will want to re-sign him quickly, with the Dragons ready to offer him big time.