NRL dream XIII based on top try scorers in each position

This incredible line-up has scored a staggering 1,463 tries collectively.

1: Billy Slater (190 tries)

Slater is the undisputed king of full-backs over the last 20 years and that should go without question.

The former Melbourne star’s 190 tries puts him second on the all-time Australian first-grade chart and places him only behind the great Ken Irvine in that respect.

2: Hazem El Masri (159 tries)

The Canterbury winger was just magical to watch on his day. Throughout his career he became renowned for his great try scoring exploits and goal kicking abilities.

The former Lebanon international holds several Bulldogs records and his 159 tries sees him tied seventh on the all-time scoring charts alongside Matt Sing who misses out due to scoring most of his tries outside the NRL era.

3: Greg Inglis (149 tries)

If Billy Slater is the best full-back of the last 20 years – Inglis is arguably the best centre of the last two decades.

The former Melbourne and South Sydney’s lethal combination of power and speed made him a force of nature during his career, proving to be near unstoppable when he had the ball in his hand.

4: Michael Jennings (147 tries so far)

The 31-year-old just seems to be getting better with age and most recently has been an integral part of Parramatta’s backline.

Since making his debut in 2007, he has gone on to also play for both Penrith and Sydney, who he won the 2013 NRL title with – and has been a constant attacking threat with his speed, ability to find gaps and connection with his wingers all proving vital.

5: Brett Morris (153 tries so far)

To this day, the 33-year-old is still as steady and valuable a performer as one could hope for.

Although he may not be as prolific as he was in his early years whilst with St George Illawarra, the Aussie veteran still puts in a solid display and can always be called upon to do his job on the flank. As of today, his 153 tries sees him 10th on the all -time try scoring table and by the end of his career he could well be in the top five.

6: Darren Lockyer (105 tries)

The Brisbane and Australian legend easily takes up the five-eighth spot as longevity and all-round skill saw him score 122 tries in his Broncos career, with 105 of them coming in the NRL era.

In a highly accomplished career, Lockyer has plenty of team and individual accolades that make him highly regarded as one of the best to ever step out on to a rugby league field.

7: Cooper Cronk (101 tries)

The five-time Dally M Half-back of The Year will no doubt go down as one of the great number sevens the game has seen.

Even though he did not ooze flair, his all-round knowledge of the game, vision and ability to have the fundamentals nailed down made him standout above the rest. A master of his craft and you know its been a great career when you reach nine Grand Finals from a possible 16.

8: Willie Mason (48 tries)

The former Kangaroos and Tonga enforcer was a force to be reckoned with throughout the early 2000s, where his hard running and aggression made him a nightmare to handle.

Although he would spend time with Canterbury, Sydney, North Queensland, Newcastle and Manly throughout his time in the NRL, it would be with the Bulldogs where he made the biggest impact. Between 2000-07, Mason cemented himself as one of the most fearsome props in the world whilst with Canterbury and even won the Clive Churchill Medal in his side’s 2004 NRL Grand Final triumph. Also, his 48 tries in the NRL era place him inside the top 10 try scoring props in the league’s history.

9: Robbie Farah (70 tries)

The former Lebanon international is not only the top try scoring dummy half in the NRL era but also in the history of Australian first-grade rugby league.

The Wests Tigers legend surpassed Luke Priddis to take top spot and could hold on to it for some time.

10: Josh Papalii (47 tries so far)

Since making his debut in 2011, Papalii has gone to be one of the most explosive props in the league.

Like Mason, the 27-year-old’s explosive running and work rate in the front-row has given opponents a torrid time. By the end of his career, he could certainly have plenty more tries to his name and can easily be placed inside the top 3 all-time top try scoring props in Australian first-grade history. However, he is way off Frank Burge’s staggering 146 tries.

11: Luke Lewis (122 tries)

A great quality ball handler and runner whose versatility to play in a wide variety of different positions saw him become a very handy try scorer throughout his career.

A proven winner after securing two NRL titles with two different clubs, the last one coming in epic fashion in his last ever season in the league with Cronulla.

12: Steven Menzies (109 tries)

Even though he made his debut in 1993, Menzies still went on to be a prolific try scorer throughout the NRL era, with 109 of his 180 tries coming post 1998.

There is no question the Manly legend will go down as one of the greatest back-rowers to play the game with his try scoring prowess, tenacity in defence, endurance and high work rate being second to none.

13: Paul Gallen (63 tries)

The loose forward position is probably one of the harder spots to measure as plenty of players who spend time at lock also see time at second-row or even prop.

However, the three-time Dally M Lock of The Year spent the majority of his career playing at 13 and in his 19 seasons with Cronulla he went onto to score 63 tries – a figure that places him inside the top five top try scoring locks in the league’s history.

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