With the off-seasis on comes the usual troupes.
Talk of expansion, the divisions talk, player movements and of course post-season rankings.
Today we're here to focus on the rankings. More specifically, the NRL bench specialists and their rankings from 2023.
Please keep in mind that these rankings are based only on 2023.
To qualify, a player must have played off the bench on a majority of appearances. They also cannot appear anywhere else in the rankings. i.e. Cam McInnes ranked in the top locks and thus won't be seen here.
Before we start, I'm going to take a moment to answer some of the usual questions to appear in the comments to any sort of rankings.
Do I even watch football? Yes, every game.
Are my eyes painted on? No. That would be funny though.
Who am I? Just a fan.
With that said, below are the top ten NRL bench specialists based purely and totally on 2023:
Honourable mentions: Wiremu Greig, Bronson Garlick, Emre Guler
I'm not going to make too many fans in Canberra for this but I cannot understand why Tom Starling is not the starting hooker for the Raiders.
All the spark from dummy half seems to come when he is on the field. That is no coincidence.
Starling's 2023 consisted of 23 appearances, 22 from the bench, leading to three tries, six try assists, five line break assists, two forced drop outs and almost 40 metres a game.
He also tackled at over 92%. I can't help but feel like Ricky Stuart missed a trick by not starting him far more often.
I was shocked to see the Warriors allow Josh Curran to move to the Dogs this off-season, especially given his 2023 efforts.
Curran came off the bench for all but six of his 23 appearances in 2023 for four tries, 29 tackle breaks, 11 offloads, 61 metres per game and an almost 92% tackle percentage.
Truthfully his efforts far surpass those numbers, especially in defence. He was often a hit man and changed momentum in sets with a big shot.
Curran's role will likely rise at the Dogs, which for both club and player can only be a good thing.
Given the ridiculous, big name talent on the northern beaches, I understand why Bullemor's efforts fly under the radar. They shouldn't though.
His 23 games, 19 of which came from the interchange bench saw him run for over 100 metres per game and tackle at 95%.
A no nonsense forward who runs hard, tackles harder and provides 110% effort on every play!? Every club in the game needs one off the bench.
Bullemor's best days are still ahead of him. He's mastered his role off the bench to near perfection.
Jack Williams is one of the game's most underrated forwards. He was in Cronulla's top two forward this year, behind only the magnificent Briton Nikora.
Each of his 24 games this season came from the bench. His role actually increased as the season went on and there must have been a thought to start him.
In those 24 games he made five line breaks, crossed for a pair of tries, ran for 96 metres per game and tackled at 93.5%.
The Sharks had some issues in the middle in 2023 but Jack Williams certainly wasn't one of those. He was massive!
Palasia was so good last season but given the Broncos late fade out, his efforts were largely lost to time.
Not so his 2023 campaign. He was brilliant coming off the bench and made sure that the Broncos didn't fall apart in the middle when their superstars were on the bench.
His 20 games in 2023, 12 from the bench (it counts) saw him average 105 run metres, tackle at over 93% and pop seven offloads.
With Tom Flegler moving north in 2024, watch for Palasia's role to grow.
Terrell May was an absolute monster across 2023 for the Roosters. His rise in the late season coincided with the Roosters run into the Finals.
Each of his 18 games this season came from the bench. He ran for spot on 100 metres per game, tackled at over 98% and broke 29 tackles. He even crossed for a try.
He averaged an offload a game, which creates second phase play for his talented halves and backline players.
May's trajectory is incredible. The Roosters will be looking to secure his long-term future ASAP as I guarantee he'll be in red hot demand.
I don't know what I was expecting but I can't believe Jarrod Wallace is 32.
It seems as though he has been around for 20 years whilst he also seems to be playing like someone in his early to mid 20s.
Wallace played a huge part, especially early on, in the Dolphins success in 2023.
Across his 19 games, 15 of which came via the bench, he crossed for three tries, ran for over 115 metres per game and tackled at almost 89%. He also broke 30 tackles and had an amazing 39 offloads. Big numbers.
Lindsay Smith's name is one most NRL fans probably wouldn't have been too familiar with heading into 2023. I promise you now that they very much are.
The Panthers big man was a monster off the bench for his side across the season. He even started three games in the middle of the season ensured Penrith didn't miss anything.
23 games, 20 of which came off the interchange bench, saw him average just under 95 metres per game, tackle at almost 95% and make just under 10 hit ups per game.
A workmanlike bench forward, Smith was impeccable in his role. Every team in the game needs a Lindsay Smith.
I'm not a huge fan of this obsession of having to pick a utility player on the bench. That said, if you had to, Dylan Walker is the blueprint.
He played in the forwards across the large majority of his games in 2023 but was also able to cover in the halves or at centre.
In his 24 games, 22 of which came via the bench, he scored three tries, had four try assists, ran for almost 95 metres per game and tackled at just under 91%.
Walker's talents off the bench ensured the Warriors lost nothing when he came on and also saw him break some games open. A very good shift in 2023.
There is a reason the Roosters went out and spent big money to recruit the Panther and Samoan wrecking ball.
He could very easily start across a number of NRL clubs but truthfully his efforts off the bench proved such a huge advantage to the Panthers.
Across his 21 games for Penrith in 2023 he averaged over 90 metres, which included eight performances over 100, had 42 tackle breaks and tackled at almost 93%.
He will play a larger role for the Roosters which I'm almost certain will lead to regular gigs for the Blues at Origin level.