NRL vote: Who has been the best winger in rugby league in 2024?

The role of the modern day winger is still to score tries, but the fastest men in the NRL bring much more than that to the table. Check out the stats of the best in the game and have your say in our poll.

It almost resembles his ‘speccie’ at the MCG – Zac Lomax’s enormous leap from outside the top 20 centres to top three wingers in a matter of months.

And, ahead of his first meeting against future club Parramatta on Saturday, he may also have just proven that wingers are now worth more than centres.

It was back in March when St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan boldly declared Lomax’s skillset suited playing on the wing, prompting Lomax’s request to leave.

But the gamble has paid off handsomely.

Not only are the Dragons still in finals contention, but Lomax, who starred for NSW in their State of Origin series triumph, has found career-best form wearing the No.2 jersey.

He is the Dragons’ leading try scorer (13), while he has also posted career-high numbers in runs (19.9), run metres (154 per game), linebreaks (11) and offloads (46).

So remarkable has been his transition, former NSW Origin representative Josh Mansour labelled Lomax in the top three wingers in the game.

“I feel like being on the wing, (Zac) has been used much more,” Mansour said.

“The strength that he has, he’s obviously the top three wingers in my eyes, in the game.

“He’s an aerial target, a great finisher, a big body, can take yardage carries, a metre eater, and also highly versatile. That ticks almost every single box to be a world class winner.”

The former Dally M Winger of the Year said Flanagan’s decision to shift Lomax to the wing saved a career that was plateauing in Wollongong.

After six years in the centres, Lomax has enjoyed a renaissance in 2024 with his Origin call-up and the possibility of a finals appearance and Dally M Winger of the Year honours.

And it may not end there, with the Temora junior also a chance of a Kangaroos jersey.

“When you’re comfortable, you don’t progress as much as you think. It’s when you get put in uncomfortable scenarios where you’re forced to adapt and evolve,” Mansour said.

“Zac has been part of the Dragons system for so many years now, and he’s been playing in that favoured centre role, so he’s been quite comfortable.

“But now that he’s been forced into a positional change, he’s had to learn, he’s had to change, adapt his playing style. And look what it’s, look what it’s been able to give him.”

Mansour, who was renowned for his high yardage counts over his career, also believed Lomax’s success could transform the value of the modern-day winger.

Long paid lower than centres, the men on the flanks are now counted on to contribute high metres and carries, as well as putting the ball over the line.

Lomax is among the league’s best wingers with his average 155 per game. He also ranks highly in tackle busts and try involvements, but still commits a high count of errors.

“Wingers are becoming more valuable than further in positions,” Mansour said.

“Every winger has his own trade.

“You’ve got the metre eaters, speedsters, the only thing they all share is being good finishers.”

Lomax is only one example of how important the modern day winger.

Zac Lomax of the Blues takes a speccie at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

Three-time premiership winner Brian To’o has long been considered the best winger in the game with his relentless work out of the back field.

To’o is averaging 182 metres per game, however he has been usurped this year by in-form Canterbury winger Jacob Kiraz, who averages a league-high 193 per game.

“Penrith are a team that loves the grind, and their blueprint is to break down footy sides,” Mansour said.

“They love a guy like To’o that can tuck the ball under his arm and chew up metres coming out of the back field.”

On the other hand, while delivering almost less than 100 metres, Titans young gun Alofiana Khan-Pereira averages 1.26 try involvements per game.

Roosters star Dominic Young has the highest count with 1.50, while he has also impressed with almost six tackle busts a game.

Dominic Young averages more try involvements per game than any other winger. Picture: NRL Photos / Brett Costello

But although each winger’s job is different depending on his team, Mansour believes they all need to give the same impact when on the field.

“We’re not meant to make 10, 15, 20 tackles a game, right? But the expectation is to get our set started, get the boys on the front foot and to drop as many metres as possible,” he said

“The winger position doesn’t get that many moments in games, but when we do, we need to capitalise them.

“If that’s an attack, or if that’s in defence, when we make a tackle, it’s an important tackle. “It’s either you’re conceding a line break, or you’re stopping a line break.

“Or you’re doing a try saving tackle, or you’re scoring on the end of an amazing backline shift in the corner with minimal space to work with.

“That’s why wingers are so vital in today’s game.”

Originally published as NRL vote: Who has been the best winger in rugby league in 2024?