NRL MVP Index: Full count down of every player from 398 to 1

It’s the most hotly debated topic in the game — who is the true MVP of rugby league? Using an unprecedented system we ranked all 398 players who took to the field in 2020 to produce a winner.

Nathan Cleary is the number one player in the NRL.

While Jack Wighton might have won the Dally M medal in 2020, an unprecedented ranking system developed by Fox Sports Lab, had the Penrith Panthers halfback as the number one player in the game in 2020.

And many footy fans would agree given he was the architect of the Panthers’ charge to the grand final which they lost to Melbourne, one of only two games they didn’t win all year.

The NRL MVP Index provides context to the hundreds of statistics produced each game and allows for more insight when comparing players in different positions. A weighting system is applied to the statistics based on the position you play in the team.

For instance, more emphasis is placed on attack for halves while a heavy weighting is applied to defence for back-rowers.

The MVP Index had Cleary at the top of the pile ahead of Shaun Johnson and James Tedesco. For comparison Cleary finished third in the Dally M count, Johnson sixth and Tedesco 12th.

Check out the full list from one to 398 in our special interactive below and search for your favourite player.

Originally published as NRL MVP Index: Full count down of every player from 398 to 1