With the NRL heading into the final six rounds of the regular season and the top eight battle heating up, we thought we would take a look at the top five players who have surprised us this reason.
The players have been listed in accordance with their reputation, or lack thereof, coming into this season as well as the impact they have had on their team's fortunes in the 2019 season.
A relative unknown heading into the 2019 season, Ryan Papenhuyzen signed for the Melbourne Storm ahead of the 2018 season after an impressive junior career at the Wests Tigers.
Standing at 181 cm and weighing in at a modest 80 kg, Papenhuyzen is incredibly the third-lightest player in the competition, but you wouldn’t know it off the back of his stellar performances in 2019.
A fullback by trade, Papenhuyzen made his debut in round four against the Bulldogs off the interchange bench and has gone on to feature in every game since for the Victorians.
While the opportunity to play long minutes has not been afforded many times, the pacey fullback from Oakhill has impressed in the limited time provided, registering four try assists and five tries in his 14 appearances, as well as an impressive 33 tackle breaks.
Having only been given the starting fullback jersey twice this season, Papenhuyzen has impressed on both occasions registering a try in each game. While he is on the lighter side, the Dundas Shamrocks junior does his best to prove the adage true that speed is power, often seen winding up at the first line of defence in order to wriggle through, and if he manages to do so, good luck catching him.
Still only 21 and with plenty more growing left in him, look for Papenhuyzen to lock down the Storm’s No. 1 jumper in the coming years.
Hailing from his native New Zealand before completing his schooling at renowned rugby league nursery Keebra Park, Briton Nikora was signed ahead of the 2016 season to join the Sharks under 20s squad.
Having impressed during his two-year stint in the Holden Cup under 20s, Nikora graduated to the Sharks' senior squad ahead of the 2018 season and played the year out with Cronulla's feeder side the Newtown Jets.
After a consistent first season in senior football and with Wade Graham set to miss the start of the 2019 season following an ACL injury, Nikora was selected to make his debut as a starting second-rower in round one of the 2019 season.
Since then he has come along in leaps and bounds, forging a reputation as a strong and hard wide running backrower, Nikora’s performances even went so far as to earn him a test debut for the Kiwis against Samoa in the recent pacific test, as well as a bumper contract upgrade and extension until the end of 2022.
The explosive backrower is now widely considered one of the top contenders for the rookie of the year award, registering four tries, eight line breaks and possessing an impressive 89% tackle efficiency rate on the edge.
Alongside Wade Graham, Kurt Capewell, and Jack Williams, the Sharks have a nucleus of back-rowers that opposition teams could only dream of.
Like some of the other names to feature on this list, most armchair rugby league fans would not have had a clue going into 2019 who Reuben Garrick was, but his performances since debuting in round one have made everyone stand up and take notice.
Growing up in St George Illawarra heartland having played his junior football for the Gerringong Lions, Garrick was widely renowned for his raw physical abilities during his junior days.
Standing at an imposing 188 cm and 98 kg with a fair bit of pace behind him, these physical advantages, as well as reasonable performances for the Dragons NSW Cup side, convinced the Sea Eagles to offer him a one-year deal for the 2019 season.
Not a whole lot was expected of Garrick or his Sea Eagles at the beginning of the season, with the man from the Peninsula sporting one of the youngest and most in-experienced back lines in NRL history.
However, much like his team, Garrick has gone onto prove all the doubters wrong. Going onto become an extremely impressive contributor on the wing, bagging 11 tries from his 18 appearances, averaging over 100 running metres per game as well as taking on the teams goal-kicking duties to great success possessing a 78% success rate off the tee.
Still only 21, Garrick’s notable early season form earnt him a two-year contract extension in May keeping him on the Northern Beaches until the end of 2021.
With Jack Wighton set to shift to the halves in the 2019 season and the Raiders lacking depth in the outside backs, Ricky Stuart took a punt on the New Zealand Warriors reserve outside back Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, signing the Cook Islands representative to a two-year deal from 2019-2020.
Stuck behind Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, David Fusitu'a and Ken Maumalo at the Warriors, Nicoll-Klokstad made an impressive start to his NRL career while in Auckland in his limited opportunities, scoring seven tries in seven appearances over his two years in their first-grade squad.
Having been signed initially as a utility back by Raiders recruitment guru Peter Mulholland, Nicol-Klokstad was handed the Raiders' No. 1 jersey for the opening game of the season and hasn’t looked back since. Going onto feature in every game at fullback, netting 10 tries as well as averaging an extremely impressive 174 running metres per game.
Largely a flashy player during his time at the Warriors, Nicoll-Klokstad has been the epitome of consistency during his time in the capital, emphasizing effort areas while still being able to pull out his trademark right footstep.
Currently sitting fifth in the NRL for tackle breaks and second for total runs, the Raiders are looking to tie down the former Warrior to a long-term deal following his impressive and surprising start to the 2019 season.
One of the real feel-good stories of the 2019 season, Maika Sivo is the latest in a long line of flying Fijian wingers to take the NRL by storm.
Having initially been scouted playing rugby union in his native Fiji before moving to Australia to ply his trade with the Gundagai Tigers, Sivo caught the eye of the Eels recruitment team after impressive stints in the Mounties and Panthers lower grade sides.
Currently, on the NRL's minimum wage contract of $72,500, Sivo is the definition of bang for your buck, topping the NRL for tries scored as well as coming second only to James Tedesco for line breaks in the 2019 season.
Possessing a hulking frame yet still having top-line speed, Sivo is the prototype modern-day winger. With the Fiji Bati representative still on contract for the 2020 season on minimum wage, the Eels are looking to ward off potential suitors in the form of a new three-year $1 million deal.
It's hard to believe that only four years ago Sivo was playing rugby union in his hometown of Nadi, Fiji.
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