Travis Meyn names his five most underrated players in the NRL

THE unsung heroes. The toilers who fly under the radar but who always hold a special place in rugby league fans’ hearts. Here’s five of most underrated players running around in the NRL.

Dale Finucane scored in last year’s grand final.

THE unsung heroes. The toilers who fly under the radar but who always hold a special place in rugby league fans’ hearts. Here’s TRAVIS MEYN’S five most underrated players running around in the NRL.

ETHAN LOWE (North Queensland Cowboys)

COWBOYS coach Paul Green called Lowe an “Origin player every day of the week” when he is at his best. The Cowboys forward has been slowed down by a neck injury over the past two years but expect him to go close to earning his first Queensland jersey this year. Lowe is an 80-minute backrower who is defensively excellent, can score tries, kicks goals and fills in at centre or in the middle when needed.

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JARROD CROKER (Canberra Raiders)

Jarrod Croker is on track to smash the NRL point-scoring record. Picture: Kym Smith

THE Raiders captain is the NRL’s greatest silent achiever. At just 27, Croker has amassed 213 NRL games and kicked 593 goals. He is on track to break all sorts of records and rarely misses games through injury. Despite his consistency, Croker’s only representative jerseys are NRL All Stars appearances and two City-Country matches. The Blues have consistently snubbed him when.

LUKE KEARY (Sydney Roosters)

Luke Keary has successful everywhere he goes. Picture: Brett Costello

THE feisty Roosters five-eighth is one of the NRL’s great competitors. Despite his stature, Keary is as tenacious as they come on the field and also one of the game’s most skilled playmakers. He plays like all good halves – direct – and is not afraid to take the line on. Despite his talent, Keary has never played any senior representative football. He finished fourth in last year’s Dally M Medal count.

DALE FINUCANE (Melbourne Storm)

Dale Finucane scored in last year’s grand final.

THE Storm lock would have played plenty of State of Origin games if he was from Queensland. Finucane is as tough and reliable as they come in the forward pack. He has played 142 NRL games and Storm coach Craig Bellamy regularly raves about him, but despite four NSW Country appearances, Finucane has never played Origin for the Blues. That should change this year.

JORDAN KAHU (Brisbane Broncos)

THE Broncos winger is a New Zealand Test player but many still do not give him the credit he deserves. Kahu was a prodigious schoolboys talent who has remarkably fought back from three serious knee injuries to become one of Brisbane’s most reliable players. He can play anywhere in the backline, kicks goals and can slot field goals with either foot. Kahu is a coach’s dream with his versatility and reliability.