Dream XIII: All time points scorers in NRL era

Another Dream XIII with a difference, as we put one together based on points scored by players in the NRL era.

Full back – Michael Gordon – 1,570 points*

Despite an NRL title eluding him thus far, the 34-year-old has been a largely consistent performer throughout his time in NRL. The majority of his success came with the Penrith Panthers between 2006 and 2012 where he would rack up 798 points along with scoring 55 tries in 108 appearances for the club.

Wing – Hazem El Mazri – 2,418 points

The highest points scorer ever in NRL to date. ‘El Magic’ built a reputation as one of the most exciting and unpredictable wingers in NRL, largely thanks to his terrific try-scoring and goal-kicking ability. El Mazri would spend his entire career with the Canterbury Bulldogs winning the title in 2004, with an incredible points tally of 324 (16 tries, 139 goals). By the end of a great career he had broken the record for most appearances and tries by a Bulldogs player, scoring 159 tries in 317 appearances.

Centre – Jared Croker – 1,668 points*

Croker would make his debut at just the tender age of 18 for the Canberra Raiders in 2009 and has since played his entire to date at the club. At the prime age of 27, Croker has shown a maturity beyond his years, establishing himself as Raiders captain and a true leader on the field, winning the Dally M Captain of the Year in 2016. In just a nine year stretch, Croker has blitzed Canberra records already and has gone on to become the record try and point’s scorer with 111 tries and 612 goals thus far.

Centre – Jamie Lyon – 1,550 points

Highly regarded as one of the best centres to play the game during his time, Lyon made a prolific start to his career, playing for the Parramatta Eels between 2000 and 2004. Lyon narrowly missed out on a Grand Final victory with the Eels in 2001 but over four years made 70 appearances along with scoring 36 tries. After a couple of years in Super League, Lyon joined the Manly Sea Eagles in 2007 and endured a great deal of success securing a NRL title in 2011. Along with being named Dally M centre of the year on four occasions, the former NSW man went on to play over 200 games for Manly scoring 86 tries and kicking 533 goals.

Wing – Luke Burt – 1,793 points

A prolific career from the former Parramatta man has seen him rack up the points thanks in large to his try-scoring and goal-kicking exploits. By 2010 Burt had become only the third player at the time to score 100 tries and 500 goals after both Ryan Girdler and Hazem El Mazri. Burt would unfortunately miss out on an elusive Grand Final victory but his performances for the Eels saw him finish his career as the clubs’ top try scorer with 124 and second most points behind only Mick Cronin.

Stand Off – James Maloney – 1,698 points*

Maloney’s career has seen him play for the likes of the New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters, where he would enjoy a fine amount of success. The 31-year-old has gone on to win two titles throughout his career, one with Roosters in 2013 along with a historic victory in 2016 with Cronulla. Maloney has had an accomplished career to date, making over 200 appearances in the NRL, scoring 60 tries to go with those two NRL titles.

Scrum Half – Johnathan Thurston – 2,080 points*

Is there else it could have been at this position? The three-time Golden Boot winner, famed for his exceptional accuracy with the boot, has had nothing short of an incredible and accomplished career. Rising to prominence with the North Queensland Cowboys, after joining from the Bulldogs in 2005, with the rest they say is history. A nothing but stellar career has seen ‘JT’ constantly fill his trophy cabinet, claiming several accolades along the way as well as two NRL titles to his name.

Prop – Andrew Fifita – 132 points*

Probably one of the most dominant prop forwards in the NRL over the last few years, the 2013 Dally M Prop of the Year is known for his fiery temperament but has an incredible knack for busting tackles and a lethal step and fend. His eight years in NRL thus far has seen Fifita add one title to his cabinet by being an integral part of the Cronulla side that claimed their first NRL title in 2016.

Hooker – Cameron Smith – 2201 points*

Smith is another one club player, playing his entire career to date for Melbourne Storm and since making his debut in 2002, Smith has cemented himself as one of the best hookers to grace NRL and the sport of rugby league itself. Although his two NRL titles with the Storm in 2007 and 2009 were stripped, he would still go on to claim another two titles in 2012 and 2017 along with claiming a vast number of awards along the way. His career would eventually come full circle in 2017 receiving the coveted Golden Boot award for his outstanding performances at club, representative and international level.

Prop – Sam Burgess – 144 points*

Believe it or not! Despite joining from the Bradford Bulls in 2010, Burgess has climbed the summit as one of South Sydney’s and NRL’s most effective and brutal forwards. Unbelievably this has also made him the second highest prop scoring forward to date, since the birth of NRL. The Great Britain international’s performances in 2014 took South Sydney to NRL glory for the first time since 1971, putting in a gutsy and gritty display to claim his maiden NRL crown along with the Clive Churchill medal for his performance in the Grand Final.

Second Row – Craig Fitzgibbon – 1,626 points

The highest points scoring forward in NRL history, would make a name for himself during his time with the Sydney Roosters, with whom he made four Grand Final appearances with between 2000 and 2004. He would eventually win the title on his 3rd attempt in 2002 along with collecting the Clive Churchill Medal for his man of the match performance. Fitzgibbon would go on to make over 250 appearances in the NRL, scoring 43 tries to go along with over 700 goals.

Second Row – Steve Menzies -438 points

Probably the most prolific try scoring forward in Australian rugby league, scoring 180 tries in 349 appearances for Manly Sea Eagles (29 coming with Northern Eagles, a merger of Manly and North Sydney Bears). Both standing as club records to this day. Menzies reached five finals with the Sea Eagles, three before the formation of NRL and winning on two separate occasions in 1996 (ARL) and 2008 (NRL).

Loose Forward – Corey Parker – 1,356 points

In a 15-year spell Parker would play out the entirety of his career with the Brisbane Broncos, winning the title on one occasion in 2006. Parker became a mainstay for both Brisbane and Queensland, being awarded the Wally Lewis medal in 2015 thanks to his performances in the State of Origin. The former Australian international racked up the points majorly thanks to his goal-kicking and by his retirement in 2016 had made just short of 350 appearances along with 39 tries.