Straight off the bat, I'm going to admit that ranking the second rowers in 2022 was the most difficult of all lists.
There were so many good performers this season which made narrowing it down to just the ten very difficult.
Ranking them was even more difficult. I very much look forward to the comments, which again I expect only to be complimentary.
Here are the top 10 NRL backrowers from 2022. Only performances this year are taken into account and only players who were named in the back row more often than they were in other positions are eligible.
For the record Liam Martin, Briton Nikora and Jai Arrow were all shortlisted but missed the final cut.
25 year-old Nat Butcher enjoyed a career best season in 2022 and should now partner Angus Crichton in the back row for many years to come.
I'm on record as saying I would have named Butcher in the extended Kangaroos squad. He wouldn't have looked out of place making the final cut either.
In his 25 games this season (including some low minute games which skew his averages) he crossed for 11 tries, broke 19 tackles, tackled at over 95% and ran for almost 80 metres per game.
Butcher is good enough to adapt as he was asked to fill multiple roles at times this year. That said, he is now undoubtedly an elite second rower.
Jaydn Su'A was an absolute monster in 2022 for the Dragons. If it weren't for Ben Hunt's near flawless season, Su'A would have swept the Dragons awards.
In his 18 games this year he scored four tries, made five line breaks, had 16 offloads, 51 tackle breaks, 122 run metres run per game & 25 tackles per game at almost 90%.
With the greatest of respects to the other forwards wearing the Red V this year, Su'A often played a near lone role up front.
I simply can't wrap the efforts of the four-time Maroon rep. A rare, brilliant singing during a rough era at the club.
Olakau'atu was one of Manly's best in 2022. Cherry-Evans aside, he may have been the star performer across the season.
If he starts 2023 in good form, there is every chance he'll make an Origin debut that probably should have come earlier this season.
In a largely dire Manly side, in his 21 games he crossed for 10 tries, made 11 line breaks, produced 11 offloads, ran for over 100 metres per game and broke an eye watering 111 tackles.
The 24 year-old, wide running wrecking ball can be very proud of his return this year. Manly could do worse than to build around their newly minted prized asset.
Keaon Koloamatangi is frightening! The ease in which he handled the Sharks forwards in that Final will be scarred into my brain for many years to come.
Another player who probably should have been wearing sky blue earlier this year, Koloamatangi was as deadly in defence as he was in attack, with a 94% tackle efficiency.
In attack he scored seven tries, broke 56 tackles, ran for 134 metres per game and produced 37 offloads. He became a focal point of the Souths attack this year.
Only twice this season did he play for less than 80 minutes. A set and forget in every game for many years to come. What a weapon!
Hudson Young finished the season in red hot form. Perhaps recency bias has him a slot or two higher here, but I cannot ignore the way he roared home.
14 tries, 11 line breaks, five line break assists, 26 offloads, 106 metres per game and 91% of his tackles made. Makes for pleasant reading.
He also broke 74 tackles, including 14 in their final two, must win games of the season. When the pressure was on, Hudson Young was super reliable.
If he wasn't in rep discussions this year, he should be moving forward. What a season. He played a massive part in Canberra's late season charge.
The next two are potentially interchangeable in terms of position but undisputedly top five second rowers this season.
Angus Crichton was an absolute problem all 2022. He was one of the Roosters to hit the ground running despite an overall slow start.
25 games for the Chooks saw him score six tries, make 12 line breaks, throw 29 offloads and break 64 tackles, all while running for over 120 metres per game.
There is no weakness in Chrichton's game. There are almost never times you have to search his name as he's always in the game. Yet another magical season for the rep regular.
If not for a player yet to be named, Lane would be the surprise packet in 2022. He's always showed great promise but in 2022 he delivered ... big time!
13 try assists is a crazy stat for a second rower. He produced that, 130 running metres per game, 14 line break assists, seven line breaks and crossed for two tries himself.
38 offloads, 65 tackle breaks and almost 93% of his tackles made round out a marvellous season on both sides of the ball.
I'm shocked he wasn't named for the Kangaroos. I honestly had him in my strongest 17. Based on form he absolutely deserved a shot.
Not for a second am I going to begrudge Kikau his spot in the Team of the Year. He was brilliant all season, perhaps even more so than he was in 2021, where he also earned that honour.
In 2022 Kikau played a huge role in his side's second straight title win. Nine tries, eight line breaks, 15 line break assists, 45 offloads, 10 try assists, 70 tackle breaks and almost 90% of his tackles made.
I'd like to see a stat for opportunities created due to defenders rushing in on Kikau. His presence is enough to create chaos.
Bulldogs' fans can be very excited for Kikau's arrival in 2023. He once had a reputation of coasting sometimes. That is now gone. Monster!!!
As good as Kikau was, in my view his Eels counterpart was just that little bit better. Papali'i proved you can play through transfer distractions as he was routinely one of the best on ground for the Eels.
Papali'i ran out 28 times for his side in 2022 to a return of 10 tries, 140 metres run per game, 37 offloads, 99 tackle breaks, 13 line breaks and 93% tackle efficiency.
There were games this year when he was unstoppable. He lead the charge in absolutely battering the in form Raiders in the Finals. His 232 metres largely set the platform for his creative teammates to run riot.
I fully understand the salary cap constraints, but the Eels are going to look back upon their inability to keep Papali'i at the club with a grimace. Huge pick up for the Tigers.
Jeremiah Nanai had one of the all time great seasons for a second rower. Considering he entered 2022 with only four games under his belt, that is almost unfathomable.
23 appearances for the Cowboys saw him net a lazy 17 tries, eight line breaks, 99 metres run per game and just under 90% of his tackles made.
Nanai became the game's best weapon in the air. Again, he is a second-rower. Those chip kicks lead so many tries that other clubs just do not score.
Nanai earned his Origin call up and performed extremely well. He was a no-brainer to debut for the Kangaroos. Add those jerseys to his Dally M TOTY medal and Rookie of the year honour. 10/10 stuff from the young superstar.