Our NRL 2024 Team of the Season — Hughes, Teddy lead star lineup

Star Roosters, Storm, and Bulldogs are littered through the best lineup of the 2024 NRL campaign, while James Tedesco, Jahrome Hughes, and a second rower smokey shape as the Dally M favourites from across the year.

Here’s the standout NRL players from the 2024 season, as selected by The Sporting Base team.

NRL 2024 Team of the Season

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1. James Tedesco (Roosters)

I can’t think of many better responses to being dropped from State of Origin than Teddy’s 2024. Benched from the Blues—that first game call-back aside—the Roosters fullback roared to life in the NRL. After a dip in his output, he knocked out 14 tries in 22 games alongside another incredible 21 try assists. One of the best metre-eaters in the league this season too with a 201 average after 4,442 total. For those Fantasy lovers among us, he also clocked up one of the best scores ever in NRL Supercoach.

2. Brian To’o (Panthers)

The absolute litmus for wingers in the NRL, arguably the best rugby league has ever seen—at least in the modern prototype. His try scoring was down a little in 2024 (twelve in 21 games) but 134 tackle breaks and a gargantuan 193-metre average across those same 21 games is what the Panthers are wanting out of To’o. The tries were just gravy.

3. Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs)

Could easily argue there’s no better backline defenders in the game. Not only did Critta lead the Bulldogs to an incredible fifth-place finish but on the field he was rock-solid across 20 appearances with an 84% tackle rate and 2,369 running metres.

4. Joseph Manu (Roosters)

The NRL is facing a great loss with Manu leaving Sydney to play in Europe. A huge 93 tackle breaks in 20 games with 18 tries and assists all up, including several killer fullback runs to cover for Teddy.

5. Jacob Kiraz (Bulldogs)

Kiraz ‘only’ scored 11 tries but his go-forward was the biggest truck for the Bulldogs as they battled to an incredible fifth. Built the platform for nearly every Canterbury attack with huge early-set runs and bagged 108 tackle breaks in 24 games. Cracked another 17 linebreaks as change.

6. Jarome Luai (Panthers)

Like Yeo later in this list, part of Luai’s standout season has been how incredibly he’s played without Nathan Cleary on the side. Many have long doubted Luai could do it without his halves partner, but this season he confirmed in the Origin arena and across the 2024 NRL campaign that he’s an out-and-out rugby league superstar in his own right.

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7. Jahrome Hughes (Storm)

Wowee, what a season from Hughes. While other Storm stars were in and out of the lineup with injuries, State of Origin representative berths, and restings, Hughes basically played through the whole year and at an uber-high level to boot. Set up 27 Melbourne tries and scored nine through 20 games. In particular, the leading Dally M favourite burned teams again and again with the sizzling running game he levelled up in 2024. Huge 18 linebreaks, 86 tackle busts, and 117 metres a game average.

8. Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)

Undoubtedly among the best props in the game and upped his game for the Warriors in his farewell season. 1,697 post-contract metres through his 2024 campaign in 23 games and laid on eight tries extra. Huge pickup for the Sharks heading into next campaign.

9. Harry Grant (Storm)

Grant has well and truly taken the mantle of best hooker in the NRL from his tutor Cameron Smith in Melbourne, playing incredible middle fiddle for Hughes to jazz up the attack. Eight tries, 1,398 metres, and 810 tackles for 92% efficiency.

10. Joseph Tapine (Raiders)

The other monster prop from the 2024 NRL season, Tapine was dubbed “the best prop in the game” by Ricky Stuart and the claim didn’t feel that outlandish either. Maximum effort with an average 14 runs a game for 142 metres each appearance, lacing an average 29 tackles each runout and 29 offloads through his 24 games.

11. Angus Crichton (Roosters)

If the Dally M competition wasn’t glutted by playmakers (and we’re not saying Hughes or Teddy aren’t top contenders) then Crichton could have a very, very good shout. Was truly incredible for the Blues in Origin and won the top series gong for those efforts, then carried that straight into the NRL to prove he’s well and truly back after some time away from the top flight competition. Seven line breaks, eight line break assists, a mega 49 offloads, and 11 tries (including a hat-trick) in 20.

12. Eliesa Katoa (Storm)

No left edge defender was safe from Katoa this season. Playing outside Hughes, Katoa rose to new levels in 2024 with 12 tries, 46 tackle busts, and 12 linebreaks. Everyone was raving about emerging tryscorers like Will Warbrick and Tyran Wishart and the 24-year-old actually only scored one less than them.

13. Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

Penrith’s stalwart middle commander. Was even more vital in 2024 with Nathan Cleary out so long, both with his first-ball passing game and his powerful off-the-field leadership.