Part one, 50-26: The best NRL players since inaugural 98’ season

TO celebrate two decades of NRL, 15 expert judges from NSW and Queensland ranked their top 50 players from the post Super League era, with fullbacks featuring prominently in the part one reveal.

Ranked: NRL's best ever players

IT’S been 20 years since rugby league united and the NRL was formed.

Over the past two decades, the game has reached new heights in terms of the athleticism, brute force and incredible skill on display.

A whopping 20 clubs contested the 1998 premiership, with the Brisbane Broncos claiming the inaugural title and the Western Suburbs Magpies the wooden spoon.

To celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the NRL, 15 judges from NSW and Queensland ranked their top 50 players from the modern era.

RANKED: NRL’s greatest players (25-1)

A strict criteria was involved and every player included in the list had to play a minimum of 100 games in the NRL, which ruled out a number of stars who had played most of their career prior to that.

It meant that players such as Laurie Daley, Kevin Walters and Glenn Lazarus, all out and out champions did not fall into the category with the bulk of their career played prior to 1998.

The list features some incredible rugby league players that have brought excitement to the lives of fans throughout the world.

Part two, to be released at 9pm on Saturday night will include the all important number one. Who will it be?

Originally published as Part one, 50-26: The best NRL players since inaugural 98’ season