14 sleeps to go

Exactly on the two week mark we come to number 14 in the countdown with a guy who will certainly prove no trouble to find highlight videos of . So as I'll be sure to put in quite a few videos of this guy for everyone's enjoyment I'll make the intro short and snappy and get straight into it.

#14 Jarryd Hayne

 Prepare for take-off 

No doubt somebody is rolling their eyes thinking "eugh Hayne, really?", yes, really. The man known as the "Hayne Plane", "Hayne Train", "Hayne Machine", "Haynesy", "Jazzer", and no doubt countless other things certainly has his fair share of critics. Like him or not however, Hayne back in 2009 was the clear cut best player in the world. As good as Barba was in 2012, his brilliance for mine still wasn't enough to eclipse what Hayne produced in 09, and I'd struggle to think of anyone who produced a season of such magnitude. Hayne's list of awards is a long one, 2006 Dally M Rookie of the Year, 2007 Brad Fittler Medal, 2007 Dally M Winger of the Year, 2008 Brad Fittler Medal, 2009 Dally M Fullback of the Year, 2009 Dally M player of the Year, 2009 RLIF Fullback of the Year, 2009 RLIF Player of the year, 2009 RLW Player of the Year, 2010 Peter Frilingos Memorial Award. Hayne truly was on top of the Rugby League world, but his amazing level of play was never going to be sustainable, and in recent years injuries have clipped Hayne's wings. While he's still played at a high level, he's been clearly hampered, a couple of yards slower than he once was, and an inconsistent squad surrounding him has been of little help. Regardless, I'm not yet ready to write Hayne off, and still see him amongst the upper echelon of players in the league. 

Hayne's 2009 was basically a season long highlight reel

At just 25, Hayne has already forged a very impressive career. 140 games for the Eels with 75 tries, 4 games for Fiji, 6 for Australia, 5 for NSW City, and a whopping 16 Origins for NSW. He's a big, powerful guy for a fullback at 189cm and 100kg, it often takes you by surprise just how strong he is because he moves so lightly on his feet, but when he decides he'd rather barrel into a defender head on instead of prance his way around them, he often sends the would be tackler stumbling back, and he's quite capable of throwing out a big hit if he is in the mood. Hayne may well be the most skilled player in the competition, he's certainly in the conversation. He's got all the tricks, the steps, the flashy passes, the no look passes, the skip out passes, the chips, all of the "park footy" repertoire. 

Looking where you pass is cheating

Then he's got an absolutely booming boot on him. He can really bang the ball a long way. While he plays most of his time wearing the number 1, he is capable of slipping into the five-eight role, and indeed many argue he would be best served staying there. The way Hayne plays fullback in the Eels attack seems him regularly move in at first receiver, he often floats about the backline on attack, waiting for when he decides he should inject himself, then moves in to first receiver for a play and the show begins. Then he returns behind the attacking line, waiting again for when he sees fit to insert himself into the action again. While he does this very well and is very dangerous, keeping in the 1 allows for his gamebreaking kick return abilities to be unleashed also. While he's slowed down a few paces, it's still very exciting to see Hayne bring the ball back, he's always a threat to break a tackle or four, the type of guy who can really produce something out of nothing. 

Shut the gate

I've mentioned a couple of times now about Hayne not being as fast as he once was, and it's true, but he's still amongst the quickest men in the competition, If he breaks the line, you likely aren't going to catch him. He's an attacking wizard, if you made yourself on Rugby League Live, his skill set is what we'd all like to imagine we have. While a lot of fans like to take shots at Hayne, I find that he also has a bit of mongrel in him  when he's pushed which I think is great. Hayne realizes that first and foremost, his job is to be an elite attacking player, not get caught up in the niggly stuff, but he's not afraid to get amongst a bit of biff if the need arises, and if you get him ticked off then don't be surprised if the Hayne Train comes in to try run you over. Most of the time however, he'll do his best talking by utilizing the vast array of skills he has at his disposal.

Step, bump off, step, turbo, gone

I for one hope that 2013 brings with it a healthy Jarryd Hayne set to return to form. The NRL is a better competition with the Hayne Plane in full flight. He is one of the true superstars of our game and he makes for fantastic viewing. From a talent perspective Hayne has all the potential to be number 1 in these rankings come next year if his body allows it. The Eels have anointed Hayne one of the co captains of the team for 2013, a testament to the developing maturity of the young superstar. Hayne's Eels proved very underwhelming in 2012, and a lot is going to fall on Hayne's shoulders if that is to change in 2013, but he certainly is one of the players in the competition with the ability to put a team on his back and lead them to the 8.

Hopefully we see a bit more of this in Origin also

Check back in tomorrow as we move on to number 13, any criticism, any comments, throw me a tweet @WellsNorthShore

Just 21 sleeps to go now until March 7th and the beginning of NRL 2013, persisting on with the countdown we come to number 21 in my list of the 30 best players in the NRL. Spoiler warning, this guy is the only Warriors player on my list. I think this may be one of the more debatable selections I've made so far, but I think he's more than deserving...

#21 Feleti Mateo

The Warriors began the 2012 with a lot of expectations, after their young team made it to the Grand Final in 2011, most assumed there would be greater things to come from the boys in New Zealand. Instead, the Warriors unravelled into a 14th place finish, a coach shown the exit, and a lot of question marks. It seemed Mateo was playing musical chairs at times with his selection, one week he'd be named at lock then end up coming off the bench, then he'd be named on the bench and start in the second row, trying to turn him into a Michael Luck like tackle machine, trying to use him as an impact player after 20 minutes, everyone was left guessing. Despite this, on a team that often seemed very disinterested, Mateo was one of the few who consistently seemed to be putting the effort in. With a coach that seemed to have no idea how to maximize his talents, not getting the minutes he wanted, no consistency in his role, no consistency from his teammates, Mateo tried in earnest to do what he could to right the ship but it proved a lost cause.

Fast forward a few minutes unless you like reminiscing about how bad videos looked in 2008

At 194cm and 108kg, 27 year old Mateo is a pretty big unit, yet if you watched his footwork you'd think you were watching a fullback. He's incredibly agile for a guy his size, and incredibly talented. So much so that he's actually played several games in his NRL career at five-eighth, for a stretch back in 2008-2009 at the Eels it was his primary position. Bundling the skill to play in the halves at a first grade level into a guy the size of Mateo spells trouble for opposition defences. Then add in the fact that Mateo is the unquestioned king of the offload in the NRL. 2012 saw Mateo with 65, offloads, 13 clear of number 2 on the list. Nobody can pop a offload like Mateo can, but these aren't just willy nilly toss the ball out to anyone offloads, Feleti has the mental game to read a defense, to see the holes and put someone through them, and often he'll do that by drawing a defender or two on to him before springing his teammate. His combination with a hard and fast running James Maloney proved a thing of beauty time and time again, there's a great living to be made in running off this guy. He's one of the elite attacking players in the comp who can really create something out of nothing, he's got the "x factor", the ability to break a game wide open, and it's primarily for that reason that I rate him so highly.

The Eels selection policies proved troubling during his time at Parramatta 

Despite being renowned more for his attacking exploits, Mateo is no mug on defense. He'll rack up the tackles at need be, though it's a difficult balance to find between piling up the tackle count and injecting yourself into the attacking game, but with his size, strength and mobility he's more than capable on defense. Often overlooked also is the toughness that Mateo brings to the field, people see all of the flashy stuff and often the toughness flies under the radar. Mateo isn't the type to stay down if he takes a big hit, as seen most recently in the All Star game after he was absolutely smoked by Greg Inglis, but Mateo shook it off and got back to business. At times he can get a real physical edge to his game, if he gets a bit roughed up, he's happy to go looking for revenge and light up someone on the opposition to give a little something back. While his greatest skills are more finesse in nature, he won't shy away from some good old fashioned mongrel footy if need be, he's no pushover, he's not someone who is going to be rattled.

BRING BACK THE BIFF

Unfortunately for Mateo, his exploits on the field have not been rewarded with the representative honours he so keenly desires. He's turned out internationally for Tonga and made a couple of appearances for NSW City and the NRL All Stars, but it's the illusive blue Origin jersey that the New South Wales born Mateo so eagerly craves. Entering 2013 after a happy marriage, a commitment to playing out the season alcohol free, a change in coaching staff, and reportedly being in fantastic shape throughout off season training, and auditioning for a new contract, all signs point to a big year for Mateo, with any luck this may be the year that he breaks through to the Origin level and gets to put his skills to the ultimate test. For now, Mateo remains one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the NRL which is why Mateo breaks into my list despite not having quite the resume of some of the other blokes in the competition.

This is my serious face

Check back in tomorrow for number 20, then on forth into the teens as we march ever close to 2013 kick off. Do you agree or disagree with any of my selections? how would your list look? let me know in the comments section or throw me a tweet @WellsNorthShore