Over the past decade-or-so, we've seen the fullback role both change and increase in importance.
Fullbacks are now expected to have the ballplaying skills of halves, the running metres of forwards, and try scoring abilities of wingers.
We're in a golden age of Rugby League fullbacks. 2022 saw a number of brilliant performances in the custodial role.
Below we look at the ten best performances by fullbacks in 2022. To be eligible, the player in question must have played fullback in more games than he did another position.
Please note this is a best of 2022 list and not necessarily the best fullbacks in the game. For example, Tom Trbojevic won't feature below despite being undisputedly in the top two or three fullbacks in the game.
9. Jayden Campbell
The Titans younster endured an up and down season in 2022 but the fashion in which he closed the season has me sure he's the long-term option on the Gold Coast.
Limited to only 14 appearances this season, 12 at fullback and two off the bench, he crossed for four tries, laid on four try assists, ran for 147 metres per game and broke 72 tackles.
I was very critical of Justin Holbrook's inability to settle on a line-up and it was only the return to form of Campbell that saved the Titans from potentially finishing last.
In the final three games of the season he ran for a combined 604 metres and 18 tackle breaks. This kid is a genius footballer.
You could put the top four in any order and I would not disagree with your conclusion. There is little to choose between any of them. All excellent players.