Year-on-year improvement is the quest for all NRL players, be they wily veterans or unproven youngsters.
Each year some players take bigger steps than others and elevate themselves into most-improved conservations.
With more than half of the shortened season now in the books, the experts at NRL.com have selected who they think has made the biggest leap forward in 2020.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard. He has shown that he can play big minutes and is playing better than when he played Origin a couple of years ago. Love the tough carries and also the variation with his offloads and passing game.
For me it's Ryan Matterson. He had a very good 2019, however, his move to Parra has seen him go to another level. He is much more of a complete player this year. Whether it's the change of environment and/or a new coach, the Eels are benefiting.
Watson’s ‘Boots for Brighter Futures’ charity an outlet for Indigenous youth
Watson’s ‘Boots for Brighter Futures’ charity an outlet for Indigenous youth
James Fisher-Harris. Yes, he was Panthers' player of the year in 2019 but he’s shifted up another gear in the middle moving from lock to prop for the past nine games. He’s averaging 195 metres a match as a front-rower. Then there’s the off-loads, footwork and tireless defence.
Stephen Crichton looked a player of promise last year and after blitzing it from the bench in the first two rounds, he was elevated to Penrith's starting side and the speedy centre has not looked back. A mix of pace and power, he has future representative star written all over him and will be crucial to Penrith's chances of making a deep finals run.
It might seem bizarre to suggest that an Origin player has been most improved in 2020, but last year I queried Daniel Saifiti's selection. This year, he is actually playing like a NSW prop. His performance against the Panthers especially stands out.
For the first six years of his career, Kurt Mann was a jack-of-all-trades who never really nailed down a specific position. But this season he's been handed a simple role at five-eighth and thrived with five tries, five try assists and a dangerous running game that has made him one of Newcastle's best-attacking players.
It's Isaah Yeo for me. He's moved into the lock role, where he's playing bigger minutes and having more of an impact on the team's performances. With more ball in hand, he's playing an important linking role between the halves and the edge.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
1/18
North Queensland's Indigenous Round jersey. The ‘Chosen One’ jersey design is the winner of the Cowboys annual Indigenous Jersey Design Competition, designed by artist William Chambers.
In the Torres Strait and North Queensland Indigenous communities, the Sea Turtle is considered a delicacy. This painting represents the turtle’s journey from hatchling to fully grown adult. The smaller turtles are hatchlings on their journey from the shore to the open sea. The circles represent all obstacles and predators; not all become fully grown. The hunters with spears look for the chosen one which will become food. The fully grown turtle is also the chosen one as it gets its chance to reproduce and continue the cycle of life.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
2/18
David Nofoaluma in the Wests Tigers' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey, named ‘Guwing & Yunada’ (meaning Sun & Moon in Dharawal language).
Location on jersey: Front & Back
Created: 6th September 2019
Meaning:
This artwork exhibits emu and kangaroo living amongst each other, while the sun and moon are on the verge of switching positions at dusk.
Artwork name: ‘River Flow’
Location on jersey: Sleeves
Created: 5th August 2019
Meaning:
This artwork symbolises life. Much like a river flow we are moving forward in our lives, and with moving forward we are all directed onto certain pathways. The blue water represents people flowing down the river in a forward motion whilst the brown, red and white represent guides putting people into the right direction
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
3/18
Cronulla's Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Alara Geebung (Cameron).
Entitled “Coming Together”, the Sharks 2020 Indigenous Jersey has been designed with the intricate artwork a direct reconnection to the ways of “our old people”, it’s an illustration which also represents a oneness with mother nature and equanimity of mind.
The night sky spirit animals represent and pay tribute to the players totems and the oneness between spirt and sky to land and sea. Through dreamtime stories, the nation’s first peoples, and widely respected by the wider community, as a symbol of Australia, the Southern Cross features as a connection between both cultures.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
4/18
Blake Ferguson in the Eels' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey. The Eels will play the Bulldogs wearing specially designed jerseys by Aboriginal artist Danielle Mate Sullivan, with input from Eels player Will Smith.
The artwork is called ‘Connection’ and represents the connection to the past and present.
The large circle on the front of the jersey represents the meeting place for the players/warriors of the game, while the line to the top is a journey line to the players’ homelands.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
5/18
There’s four hands on the back that represent Eels indigenous players Blake Ferguson and Will Smith’s children. The smaller circles are a nod to communities the Eels visit and work with.
The past is represented by the warrior and the Parramatta River. The Burramattagal people, who are a clan of the Darug, have a connection to this river where they first settled and caught fish, eels and other sources of food
Colours from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags feature on the sides of the jersey.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
6/18
Scott Prince models the Broncos' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey designed by Elaine Chambers-Hegarty. The centre of the jersey is the meeting ground where people from north, south, east and west gather to unite their communities under the watch of their ancestors.
Circles throughout the jersey represent communities in which the Broncos and Deadly Choices operate. Some are connected, and others are more remote. Wavy lines to the community areas show the rivers and waterways currently suffering through drought. Markings around show sections representing the people of the Torres Strait Islands.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
7/18
Angus Crichton in the Roosters' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey. The Sydney Roosters ‘Club’ is depicted as the main circle in the top left-hand corner. There are journey lines branching out from the circle which represents the many community programs and events the Roosters are involved in. The outline of the Rooster logo is overlapping the circle and shows the strength and support of all areas of the Club. The Sydney Roosters logo is outlined in dot work to represent the ongoing Indigenous heritage of the players, staff and members of the Club.
Below are the totems of the Indigenous players of the Sydney Roosters, including players from the Junior Squads to the NRL. The totems contain symbols that represent land, sea and sky. The footprints and surrounding area indicate the act of dancing and kicking up dust, which signifies the moving in the womb of Mother Earth. This act relates to the Roosters when they take to the field during Indigenous Round in 2020.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
8/18
Gold Coast's Indigenous Round jersey.
Connection with community, passion, support and togetherness are the key messages from the inspiring artwork “Healing” from Coffs Harbour artist Laura Pitt, that has been chosen as the design for the Gold Coast Titans 2020 Indigenous jersey. The blue circles in the middle with the symbols on the outside represent the Titans community, passion is represented through the coloured dots surrounding the players and supporters with links of the blue and ochre lines that merge together as one.
The handprints and blue and white waterholes surrounding the area represent connection to the land. The blue and yellow healing leaves represent the resilience of the team that play together and heal together.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
9/18
South Sydney's Indigenous Round jersey. For the 2020 NRL Indigenous Round, the Rabbitohs will be wearing culture on their sleeves, representing the proud legacy of the indigenous players who have worn the Jersey before them. In collaboration with our Indigenous players and artist Uncle Joe Walker, the Jersey design connects all the different communities, players and their stories to the Black Rabbit.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
10/18
Adam Elliott models Canterbury's Indigenous Round jersey, designed by local Indigenous students from Bethlehem College, Ashfield.
The design of this year’s Jersey features traditional artwork by the Students, symbolising the coming together of our community for Indigenous Round.
Indigenous and Non-Indigenous players, Members of our community and the designers themselves are represented as Suns on the Jersey arranged around a meeting place – in this instance, our match against the Eels.
Also included on the Jersey are totem animals of the local area and the Cooks River, which has long enabled many tribes to come together.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
11/18
Manly's Indigenous Round jersey. The large blue circular design feature positioned in the bottom right corner of the jersey represents the Manly district and Brookvale, with its tentacles and tributaries reaching far beyond, embracing fans across the country.
At the centre of the circle is a map of the Manly/Warringah/Pittwater districts. There are also seventeen lines, one for each of the warriors selected to represent the 2020 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL each week.
The carefully dotted lines also represent the journeys undertaken by Indigenous players, past and present, who have proudly represented the Manly club and their Peoples. At the end of each journey, the players communities and grass roots footy are depicted. It is, in essence, the starting point from where the Rugby League adventure begins for all First Nations players.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
12/18
The Dragons' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey. The front of jersey design, entitled Dragons Community by Watson, showcases spiritual guides, the humpback and footprints of the kangaroo within the hunting boomerang and pays respect to the Dragons' playing group, their families, staff and supporters including the Dharawal-speaking people.
The smaller community groups and pathways in grey represent the different backgrounds and journeys travelled by all players and supporters, showing that in the end they are all tied together by the strength of the Dragon’s jersey.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
13/18
The lower back of jersey design, entitled Dharawal Country – Spirit of the Dragons by Binge, demonstrates a representation of two meeting places – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium and WIN Stadium – while the U-shaped symbols embody the traditional Bidjigal and Wadi Wadi custodians where the stadiums stands.
The little people are a depiction of the youth while the two spirit figures watch over and guide them through life. Hands are a representation of the traditional custodians of the land while the circle symbolises community; the whale is the totemic animal of the Dharawal people, and the goanna represents the people of the mainland. These three symbols represent health, education and social issues.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
14/18
Canberra's Indigenous Round jersey. Artist Lynnice Church, an Aboriginal woman from the Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi Tribes who previously held a position on the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, is credited with the jersey design which carries artwork associated with the region’s Reconciliation Public Holiday, which occurred on Monday 1 June 2020.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
15/18
Penrith's Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Natasha Fordham.
The front of the jersey features the meeting place of Panthers Stadium on Darug land, flanked by the Nepean River, local wildlife and the Blue Mountains
The setting sun creates an eye-catching silhouette to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land the Panthers community calls home today
Designed by Natasha Fordham in collaboration with Panthers Indigenous Welfare Officer Glen Liddiard and Panthers players Brent Naden, Daine Laurie and Brayden McGrady
Totems recognising the club's Indigenous players in the NRL squad including Brent Naden (Wiradjuri - goanna), Brayden McGrady (Kamilaroi - snake) and Daine Laurie (Bundjalung / Yaegl - turtle)
Fans will be able to bid for match-worn jerseys signed by the individual player directly after the game via shop.penrithpanthers.com.au
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
16/18
Melbourne's Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Ky-ya Nicholson Ward, a 17-year-old Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Ngurai illum Wurrung woman.
The jersey is called ‘Jindi Worobak’ which means ‘Join and Unite’ in Woiwurrung which is the language of my people, the Wurundjeri people, the traditional custodians of Narrm (Melbourne). This is my way as an artist to acknowledge the players, the workers, volunteers and fans that all join and unite to create the amazing Melbourne Storm community and environment. The centre circle on the jersey represents AAMI Park, and the white circles represent the staff, fans and crowd who come united as one to support the players. It represents how when we all come together as one, we are stronger. The joint circles flowing through the middle section of the jersey represent the Birrarung (Yarra River) which is a very significant and spiritual river to my people. ‘Birrarung’ means ‘river of mists’ in Woiwurrung, this is because the mist dances along the river at dawn which is linked to my people’s dreamtime/creation stories.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
17/18
The Warriors' Indigenous Round jersey, designed by Dave Burke. Tāua Tahi is the Māori way of saying “That’s Us” - Indigenous populations share many cultural similarities around how we relate to our environments particularly land, water people and language.
Tāua tahi the 2020 indigenous jersey acknowledges these similarities and shared realities on field and off field. It represents the players coming together and below is the next generation who are inspired by the coming together of our indigenous people and the change that can be created by understanding and respecting each other.
Indigenous Round jerseys explained
18/18
The Newcastle jersey was designed by local Aboriginal artist Tyler Smith with feedback from Knights players Connor Watson, Edrick Lee and Gehamat Shibasaki. In creating a deeper bond to the region and its people, Smith enlisted the assistance of four young Indigenous detainees through his art program at Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre. The design of the jersey represents the local landscape of Newcastle, the wider region and also incorporates the handprints of the three players. Central to the design is the implementation of three totems representing the three players - Goanna (Watson), Turtle (Shibasaki) and Saltwater Crocodile (Lee).
For a player who had only lined up in two NRL games before this year, Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant has shot out of the blocks to now be one of the leading No.9s in the game. He led the Dally M Medal points table through 11 rounds and has showcased the toughness, game smarts and match-winning traits of his old Storm mentor Cameron Smith.
In a strong field, I can't go past Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Down on form and confidence after some serious injuries, the former Test prop was last year relegated briefly to reserve grade at Penrith. RCG has been a rock for the Eels this year and has gotten better and better as the season's gone on.
It looks like you may be using adblocking software to view this site.
Many features on the site, such as video playback, may not work properly when using adblocking software.
Please whitelist our domain or disable your adblocker to access all features and videos.
Matt Dufty has gone from a fringe first-grader to one of the game's form fullbacks. The Dragons speedster has unlocked impressive passing and short kicking skills while rediscovering the confidence that made him such a threat in 2018.
The Sharks have won five of their past six matches on the back of the sizzling form of Shaun Johnson. The sublimely talented Kiwi already has 16 try assists in 2020, the same amount he tallied for the entirety of 2019. At his most dangerous when he runs the ball, Johnson has engaged the line 83 times in 11 games this year compared to 92 times in all of 2019. Right now he's the Sharks' most improved and most influential.
Nathan Cleary. Yes, he was already a State of Origin representative before this year, but there was extreme pressure on Cleary and the Panthers heading into 2020. After an underwhelming 2019 campaign and the departure of James Maloney, Cleary had to get better. He's done that and more, lifting the Panthers to the top of the league after 11 rounds.
Matt Dufty. After a disappointing 2019, the Dragons fullback was no longer wanted at the club but chose to stay and fight for his position. Dufty's greatest asset has been his speed but he now possesses handy passing short-kicking games which have yielded seven tries for team-mates. He has also scored eight four-pointers in nine matches for the Red V.
It looks like you may be using adblocking software to view this site.
Many features on the site, such as video playback, may not work properly when using adblocking software.
Please whitelist our domain or disable your adblocker to access all features and videos.
The second year in the NRL for Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown could've gone either way after being hampered by a back injury in his debut season. But the 20-year-old has gone to another level in 2020, increasing his numbers in all attacking areas from try assists, runs, running metres, kicking metres and offloads.
Recency bias is probably to blame with his two most recent games being heroic stints at prop but Reagan Campbell-Gillard is seemingly having a breakout year, all over again. There have been long stints in the middle, high tackle counts and epic meterage, not to mention a 50m runaway try. Its been a great season for RCG.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard. This time last year he was one of the most expensive reserve graders in recent NRL memory. Has found his mojo, career-best form and then some at Parramatta to be churning through 184 metres a game (fourth-best for a forward in the NRL) and 80-minute performances, thriving in a six-again environment that could’ve easily had him struggling.
The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of the NRL, ARL Commission, NRL clubs or state associations.
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
