Surprise picks as RLPA unveils its 'Dream Team' for 2023 NRL season
Broncos and Storm stars dominate
The Broncos are the dominant force in the 2023 RLPA Dream Team, which was unveiled on Wednesday of preliminary final week.
Kevin Walters' side had four players picked by their peers in the player voted NRL Team of the Year, with superstar middle forwards Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas (both pictured) among them.
The Panthers and Warriors both had three players picked in the team, while Storm guns Harry Grant and Cameron Munster were the pick in their position.
While many of the players selected in the team were no brainers there were a couple of head scratchers and some big names snubbed, perhaps due to being sidelined at key times due to injury.
Scroll on to see the full RLPA Dream Team.
Fullback: Reece Walsh
The young gun has taken the Broncos to the next level in 2023, putting on 26 tries to be fifth in the competition for try assists, while scoring eight of his own.
Walsh's x-factor has played a huge role in making them a premiership contender this year.
Wing: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Has been a revelation since joining the Warriors after failing to live up to his $800k-a-season price tag at the Bulldogs.
An elite finisher, DWZ is among the NRL's leading tryscorers this season and is averaging more than a try per game.
An easy pick for this team.
Wing: Brian To'o
One of the biggest metre eaters in the NRL again this season, and has scored 18 tries.
Is a big reason for the Panthers' continued dominance and is widely acknowledged as the best winger in the game.
Centre: Herbie Farnworth poses for a selfie with Broncos fans after the team's qualifying final win over the Storm.
A fan favourite with the Broncos, the Englishman will be missed when he links with the Dolphins at the end of this season.
Like many of his teammates, Farnworth has had a fine season, however an argument can be made that Campbell Graham, Will Penisini or Farnworth's teammate Kotoni Staggs had seasons just as impressive.
Centre: Stephen Crichton
Superb in the State of Origin series, Crichton has stamped himself as one of the best centres in the game and had arguably a career best season with Penrith.
Not only is he lethal with the ball, Crichton has developed into an outstanding defender, who will leave a huge hole when he joins the Bulldogs at the end of the season.
Five-eighth: Cameron Munster
Widely acknowledged as one of the best players in the NRL, Munster is always a high vote getter when teams like this are assembled by his peers.
However, if this team was picked on statistics, he'd be well down the pecking order, with Cody Walker and Luke Keary outshining him in several key areas.
Halfback: Shaun Johnson
One of the favourites for the Dally M Medal, the star halfback has had a career resurgence this season and is a huge reason the Warriors are still in the hunt for a premiership.
Hooker: Harry Grant
After starting the season superbly, the Storm No.9 has had his challenges at the back end of the season, with his performance in the first final against the Broncos roundly criticised.
However, more often than not he is one of Melbourne's best players and, along with Munster and Jahrome Hughes, forms one of the most lethal spines in the competition.
Lock: Patrick Carrigan
There are some outstanding locks in the NRL, with Isaah Yeo, Cameron Murray, Jake Trbojevic and Tohu Harris also in the conversation for this honour.
However, it's hard to argue with the influence Carrigan has had on a much improved Broncos side, forming arguably the strongest middle combination in the NRL alongside Payne Haas and Tom Flegler.
