Fresh off inking a monster extension to stay on the Storm, Cameron Munster alongside Jahrome Hughes will enter the 2023 season as the highest halves pairing based on Fox Sports Lab.
The Melbourne duo have come out on prime after measuring each mixture’s win share, tries, strive assists, linebreaks, minutes performed per recreation amongst different statistics since 2020.
While they would be the highest rated pairing, Munster and Hughes have an enormous job on their fingers this season after shedding 791 video games of NRL expertise.
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Felise Kaufusi, Brandon Smith and each Jesse and Kenny Bromwich departed Craig Bellamy’s aspect and now his halves pairing will ply their commerce behind a younger ahead pack.
Meanwhile, the reigning premiers, Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai are scorching on their heels, touchdown in second place.
The Panthers have been the NRL benchmark for the previous two seasons and are gunning for a 3rd straight premiership in 2023 — however equally to the Storm, Cleary’s aspect have misplaced key gamers.
Parramatta’s duo of Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown slotted into third place, whereas the present Dally M Medallist completed in fourth place.
Elsewhere, the Tigers duo of Luke Brooks and Adam Doueihi pipped a pairing that completed within the prime three, whereas the Dolphins duo have crushed out a bunch of groups forward of their NRL debut.
Read beneath for the total Fox Sports Lab halfback rankings!
17. TANAH BOYD AND KIERAN FORAN – Titans
Justin Holbrook pinpointed his halves mixture as a key downside throughout a turbulent marketing campaign final yr earlier than making a giant signing.
The Titans acquired the companies of Manly veteran Kieran Foran in a bid to deliver extra expertise to Gold Coast’s backbone.
Tanah Boyd appears set to companion the 32-year-old within the halves and add to his 39 video games of NRL expertise.
Boyd has largely come off the bench as a utility since 2019, however will now be determined to cement himself because the membership’s long run halfback.
16. SHAUN JOHNSON AND TE MAIRE MARTIN – Warriors
Shaun Johnson recorded 14 strive assists and three tries in what was thought-about a down season for the skilled halfback final yr,
The 32-year-old had a number of halves companions in 2022, together with Ronald Volkman and Chanel Harris-Tavita, because the Warriors lastly returned to their Auckland base.
Now, former Bronco Te Maire Martin joins Johnson within the halves underneath rookie coach Andrew Webster.
The 27-year-old made a return to the NRL final yr after stepping away from the sport in 2019 resulting from a bleed on the mind.
15. SEAN O’SULLIVAN AND ANTHONY MILFORD – Dolphins
Wayne Bennett has wheeled out his first ever halfback pairing, with Sean O’Sullivan and Isaiya Katoa getting the nod.
The skilled coach snubbed Anthony Milford in a shock transfer, handing 19-year-old Katoa his NRL debut.
Last yr, O’Sullivan deputised for Nathan Cleary on the Panthers and was spectacular, whereas Katoa featured for Tonga within the World Cup through the low season.
While many would contemplate it a danger to throw Katoa into the fold over the skilled Milford, Bennett has clearly seen sufficient and believes the younger gun can do the job.
14. BEN HUNT AND JAYDEN SULLIVAN – Dragons
Dragons star Ben Hunt was one of many competitors’s finest gamers final season and completed third on the Dally M leaderboard.
Last yr Junior Amone partnered Hunt however has since been stood down underneath the NRL’s No Fault Stand Down coverage for an alleged hammer assault.
Now Jayden Sullivan is ready to make the five-eighth spot his personal and hopefully take strain off under-siege coach Anthony Griffin.
The Red V scored the sixth least quantity of factors in 2022 and struggled when Hunt wasn’t firing.
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13. JACKSON HASTINGS AND KALYN PONGA – Knights
Adam O’Brien’s Knights misfired in 2022, ending in 14th place and successful solely six video games.
Now the previous Storm assistant has made wholesale adjustments, signing Jackson Hastings and introducing marquee star Kalyn Ponga into the halves.
Newcastle devoted might be determined for the duo to fireplace and propel the Knights again into the finals race.
However, the pair have solely performed one recreation collectively within the pre-season and their mixture might take time to gel.
12. KYLE FLANAGAN AND MATT BURTON – Bulldogs
While the Bulldogs completed in twelfth final yr, there have been optimistic indicators from marquee star Matt Burton alongside Kyle Flanagan.
Flanagan performed 20 video games final yr and have become a mainstay alongside Burton, who developed into the membership’s focus in assault.
Burton recorded six tries and 16 strive assists to go together with seven line breaks, incomes himself an extension till the tip of the 2027 season.
Multiple new recruits have joined the Belmore-based membership, and the strain might be on Burton to ship with a brand new man on his left — Viliame Kikau.
11. DALY CHERRY-EVANS AND JOSH SCHUSTER – Sea Eagles
Josh Schuster has been dominated out for the primary spherical of the season with a calf harm and is ready to return in Round 3 after Manly’s bye within the second week of the season.
Schuster is ready to companion Daly Cherry-Evans upon return from harm and the pair type a formidable partnership.
Cherry-Evans has been one of many NRL’s most constant gamers for quite a lot of years, nevertheless Schuster, who has been touted as a future famous person of the sport, might want to show he’s a long-term choice within the halves.
10. ADAM REYNOLDS AND EZRA MAM – Broncos
Adam Reynolds made an prompt affect when he landed in Red Hill final yr, guiding the Broncos within the finals race earlier than a late fall noticed them end ninth.
However, he was sidelined for 4 video games final yr and harm issues have continued to emerge for the veteran halfback, sitting out of the membership’s closing trial with again stiffness.
Ezra Mam, 20, made his NRL debut in Round 11, happening to play 13 video games earlier than he was dropped for the ultimate recreation of the yr.
Following the departure of Tyson Gamble, Mam is ready to make the five-eighth spot his personal and his explosive ball-running might show the proper foil for Reynolds’ sensible playmaking expertise.
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9. CHAD TOWNSEND AND THOMAS DEARDEN – Cowboys
Chad Townsend’s multi-year take care of the Cowboys was initially referred to as into query, however the premiership-winning halfback received the final snicker.
Alongside Tom Dearden, the previous Sharks playmaker excelled, steering the ship whereas his companion ran riot.
The 21-year-old five-eighth scored a powerful 9 tries in 23 video games, incomes a Maroons call-up for the State of Origin decider.
Dearden was closely praised for his efficiency underneath Billy Slater, and this duo will as soon as once more be firing.
8. LUKE BROOKS AND ADAM DOUEIHI – Tigers
Luke Brooks and Adam Doueihi each hung out sidelined in 2022 and now are set to cement their positions within the halves this season.
Statistically, each gamers are spectacular and in 11 video games final season, Doueihi scored twice and recorded 5 strive assists with three line breaks.
Brooks can also be one of many NRL’s most closely scrutinised gamers — however underneath Tim Sheens tutelage, might be determined to bounce again and lead the merger membership to finals soccer.
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7. JAMAL FOGARTY AND JACK WIGHTON – Raiders
Since 2020, Jamal Fogarty and Jack Wighton have amassed some spectacular statistics, touchdown them in seventh place.
Fogarty has the third most quantity of possessions of any participant within the prime seven pairings, whereas Wighton has scored the quantity of tries as Cameron Munster, tallying 22.
Wighton additionally averages 79 minutes per recreation, with solely three gamers averaging 80 minutes within the prime seven pairings.
6. LACHLAN ILIAS AND CODY WALKER – Rabbitohs
Lachlan Ilias and Cody Walker guided the Rabbitohs to a preliminary closing and might be hoping to win two extra video games in 2023 and raise the trophy.
Ilias had an up-and-down season, and was dragged from the sphere inside half-hour after trailing 32-0 to the Dragons.
The younger gun bounced again impressively, whereas Walker has been one of many NRL’s most damaging halves for years, and since 2020 his affect on the South Sydney aspect can’t be understated.
Walker averages 80 minutes per-game, sits behind solely Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes in the case of deal with busts and has the second most linebreaks within the prime seven pairings with 39.
But the place Walker exceles is in his linebreak and take a look at assists, sitting on the prime for each classes.
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5. SAM WALKER AND LUKE KEARY – Roosters
Since 2020, Sam Walker and Luke Keary have performed the least video games out of the highest seven pairings — however their stats nonetheless add up.
The duo have recorded a powerful 89 strive assists between them and solely Cleary and Walker have extra secondary strive assists than Keary.
Walker has additionally scored two extra tries than Mitchell Moses in 18 video games lower than the Parramatta gun.
If each of the Roosters halves can keep match and firing, the Tricolours might be a scary outfit in 2023.
4. NICHO HYNES AND MATT MOYLAN – Sharks
Nicho Hynes made a profitable swap to the halves in 2022, having performed most of his video games at fullback or off the bench on the Storm.
Meanwhile Moylan had struggled in Cronulla earlier than his belief halves companion arrived.
Now the duo are an attacking nightmare and since 2020 throughout 60 video games, Hynes has extra wins than Munster with 47.
Hynes has additionally scored the third most factors behind solely Moses and Cleary, and likewise has the second most runs per recreation, scoring 16 tries in that interval.
Hynes gained the Dally M Medal final yr and can do his finest to defend that title in 2023.
3. MITCHELL MOSES AND DYLAN BROWN – Eels
Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown led Brad Arthur’s aspect all the way in which to the grand closing in 2022, happening to the Panthers.
The duo have cast a powerful partnership since 2020 and Moses has scored a staggering 493 factors in that interval, behind solely Cleary.
Meanwhile, Brown boasts the second most working metres per recreation, behind solely Munster in addition to the fourth most deal with busts.
After shedding a number of gamers, Parramatta are up towards it this season, but when these two are firing — they’re at all times an opportunity.
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2. NATHAN CLEARY AND JAROME LUAI – Panthers
Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai have gained back-to-back premierships, and their statistics present simply how dominant the pairing have been.
The duo’s 130 strive assists dwarf the subsequent finest pairing, whereas Cleary contributes a major 70 of these to take a seat second behind Walker within the prime seven pairings.
Meanwhile, Cleary has recorded probably the most factors and likewise kicks for over 500 metres per recreation, with the closest being Moses with solely 428.
Penrith might grow to be the primary group within the NRL period to win three premierships in-a-row in 2023 — and Cleary and Luai might be important to their possibilities.
1. JAHROME HUGHES AND CAMERON MUNSTER – Storm
Two of probably the most harmful attacking threats within the competitors, Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster know how you can pile on the factors.
Munster runs the ball most of any participant within the prime seven pairings and likewise makes probably the most run metres per recreation.
Surprisingly Hughes beats Munster out for deal with breaks with a staggering 217, together with his trusty five-eighth in second with 210.
Munster additionally has recorded 16 extra offloads than second positioned Luai, and has additionally made the second least errors, crushed by solely Luai.
Hughes and Munster have a giant job on their fingers in 2023 after shedding a number of skilled gamers.
However, there might be no scarcity of factors as soon as once more underneath coach Craig Bellamy and Melbourne will as soon as once more be one of many groups to face.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
