Top five international players of 2019

We have picked out the five players who stood out on the international stage in 2019.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)

The 26-year-old is a freak of a rugby league player. He always turns up for New Zealand on the big stage, scoring 14 tries in 17 games for the Kiwis.

Tuivasa-Sheck was instrumental in New Zealand’s 2-0 series win over Great Britain this autumn and fully deserved the 2019 Golden Boot award for being the best player in the international arena.

Tui Lolohea (Tonga)

Lolohea started the season at Leeds but found his best form when he moved to Salford midway through the year.

The 24-year-old played three games for Tonga this year and was a candidate for man of the match in each one. Lolohea was Tonga’s standout player in their historic wins over Great Britain and Australia.

Viliame Kikau (Fiji)

The blockbusting forward has enjoyed a fantastic year for club and country. He has been one of the top back-rowers in the NRL for Penrith Panthers.

Kikau has performed incredibly well for his native Fiji. He helped the Bati win three out of three as they defeated Lebanon, Samoa and Papua New Guinea. The 24-year-old is killing it right now.

Siosiua Taukeiaho (Tonga)

The 27-year-old is a unique player to say the least. You don’t see many goal-kicking prop forwards!

Taukeiaho has earned nine caps for Tonga so far and has been pivotal to their rise through the international ranks. Like Lolohea, Taukeiaho was brilliant in their victories over the Lions and Kangaroos.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (New Zealand)

Waerea-Hargreaves has been one of the best middles in the game for a number of years now and he has been quality for the Kiwis this year.

The 30-year-old, who is of Maori and English descent, earned four caps for the Kiwis in 2019 and Great Britain really struggled to deal with his aggression in both tests.