Phil Buzz Rothfield rates his top 50 NRL players in 2014. Today 26-50
IT’S here. Buzz Rothfield has named his 50 best players in the NRL. Do you agree? Have your say in our special interactive!
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THE best new signings in rugby league in 2014 wonÂ’t necessarily be Ben Barba at the Broncos, Sam Tomkins at the Warriors or Will Hopoate at Parramatta.
A player on just a third of their salaries might just prove to be the game’s top recruit.
Tyrone Peachey, snapped up by the Panthers from the Sharks, has made The Daily’s Telegraph’s top 50 player list.
VIEW THE LIST NOW: HERE IS OUR SPECIAL TOP 50 INTERACTIVE!
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The 22-year-old has the skill to play five-eighth or the strength and size to play back-row.
Despite only seven first grade appearances, plenty of good judges rate him a future State of Origin player.
The experience he gained in last year’s finals series will be invaluable in his debut year at the Panthers.
He has been included at number 50.
Peachey is the only Penrith player to make the top 50. The players I had most trouble leaving out were centre Dean Whare and hooker James Segeyaro.
Jamal Idris, Tim Grant and Jamie Soward didn’t do enough last year to warrant inclusion.
It’s very much a revamped top 50 from last year with nine newcomers in the list of players between 26 and 50.
Jake Friend, Josh Papalii, George Burgess, Boyd Cordner, Jorge Taufua are among the new players that demanded selection.
All four could have made the top 25 list in tomorrow’s edition but have been beaten by more experienced players.
DO YOU AGREE? TELL US IN OUR SPECIAL TOP 50 INTERACTIVE!
Obviously there are casualties from last year’s top 50.
The likes of Wade Graham, Michael Ennis, Dave Taylor, Sam Kasiano, Kurt Gidley, Dave Shillington and Tony Williams have missed out.
Their form last year wasn’t good enough to warrant inclusion, especially big T Rex.
Others have slipped out of the top 25 but still made the top 50.
Ben Barba, on the back of his Dally M year, was rated the fifth best player in rugby league this time last year.
He’s slipped 22 spots to 27 this year.
Manly’s Anthony Watmough (19 to 30), the Gold Coast’s Nate Myles and Greg Bird have also tumbled.
DON’T MISS: PART TWO, 25-1 WILL BE REVEALED ON WEDNESDAY!
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