Forget Michael Morgan, stats show Luke Keary NRL’s form playmaker

TRENT Robinson named Michael Morgan as the NRL’s best player over the weekend, but stats show his own playmaker is better.

Luke Keary of the Roosters.

THEY are the attacking statistics that should have North Queensland working double time on their defence and South Sydney fans wondering what might have been.

While Michael Morgan has earned all the plaudits this week, named the NRL’s best player by opposing coach Trent Robinson, Sydney Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary has emerged as the standout half of the season.

Fox Sports Lab has unearthed the stunning numbers that show why Keary has a decisive edge over ­Morgan — and most other halves in the NRL.

Since switching to Bondi from Redfern this season following a fallout with the Rabbitohs, Keary has ­enjoyed a career-best year.

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Luke Keary's 2017 NRL stats.

His 31 linebreak assists were the most of any player this regular season, almost three times the 11 he had at South Sydney last year and double ­Morgan’s 16.

Roosters teammate Mitchell Pearce and Broncos star Anthony Milford were second with 25 linebreak assists.

Keary had 24 try assists, two more than Morgan and second alongside Shaun Johnson and Daly ­Cherry-Evans, behind Gold Coast halfback Ash Taylor’s 29.

In 2014 and 2015, Keary managed just eight try assists with the Rabbitohs.

Keary also led all starting halves with 15 linebreaks, double his previous best of seven in 2015 and three more than Morgan.

Luke Keary’s stats far surpass Michael Morgan’s.

Michael Morgan was labelled the NRL’s best player by Roosters coach Trent Robinson earlier in the week.

“Luke has brought X-factor to the team, he’s been great,” Pearce said.

“We have formed a really good combination.

“He has speed, instincts, he’s been good for the club. He’s a good clubman, a good guy to have around.

“He’s been perfect for the club. I don’t think it could have worked out any better.”

Keary was sent home from training on Tuesday, having suffered from food poisoning all week, but he is expected at the Roosters’ video session on Wednesday.

Luke Keary is in the midst of a career year.

The 25-year-old’s 2017 campaign has been its own highlight reel as Keary has rattled off career-best numbers in tries (8), tackle busts (40), run metres (1105), forced drop outs (12) and offloads (20).

“He’s a good player, isn’t he?,” Roosters winger Blake Ferguson said. “He turns up, he’s a tough bugger.

“He only looks like he weighs 60kg, the skinny legs on him. He plays above his weight — everyone at the club loves him.

“Luke is very footy smart. He leads us around and most times makes the right decisions.

“I watched him at Souths and he won a comp in his first or second year. I haven’t won one and I’ve been playing for that long, seriously. He knows how to win.”