The Mole's 2024 most improved players: Bargain buy who relegated $1m star to second fiddle
Most improved players
Braydon Trindall and Dylan Brown stood up in the absence of some superstar teammates - and one of them even pushed the $1m halfback to the side.
The Mole reveals every club's most improved player of 2024.
Broncos - Corey Jensen
Corey Jensen has been with the Broncos for eight seasons and never got many headlines.
But in a difficult year for the club, the 30-year-old prop shone.
He was the only Bronco to play in every game for Kevvie Walters, often lifting the tempo from the bench.
And Kevvie showed his appreciation by awarding the unheralded forward with the Kevin Walters Most Consistent Award in a fitting parting gesture.
Raiders - Kaeo Weekes
When Kaeo Weekes joined the Raiders this season after playing just nine games at Manly in 2023, it barely rated a mention.
But Weekes immediately found form and confidence in his new home in the ACT and looking back, was one of the buys of the year.
The 22-year-old played 17 games in the top grade and established himself as a genuine strike weapon.
Ricky Stuart presented him with his NRL Coaches' Award for the year and the speedy utility capped a fine breakthrough season by scoring two tries for the Prime Minister's XIII against PNG post-season.
Bulldogs - Jacob Kiraz
Jacob Kiraz had a breakout season in the NRL for the Dogs in 2024 - so much so that he was talked about as a possible State of Origin bolter for the Blues.
He won the club's Players' Player award and scored 12 tries during the season - as many as in the past two years put together.
With the ability to play fullback, wing and centre, the 22-year-old utility is one of the Dogs' most valuable players heading into what looks like a massive year for the club in 2025.
Big, strong and fast, he's a handful for rival backlines and also reads the play well in defence, saving many dangerous situations near his own line.
Sharks - Braydon Trindall
Few players in the NRL came of age in as spectacular fashion as Braydon Trindall in 2024.
When star halfback Nicho Hynes was injured early in the season, Trindall was given the keys to the Sharks' attacking machine - and many thought both he and the team would struggle.
But the 25-year-old relished the new-found responsibility, so much so that even when Hynes returned to the line-up, he remained the go-to man.
In his fifth season out of Wee Waa, Trindall was one of the success stories of 2024.
Dolphins - Max Plath
Max Plath started 2024 well down the pecking order at the Dolphins but finished the year as the club's brightest prospect.
Plath, who forced his way into the top side by pure determination, won the Arthur Beetson Medal as the Dolphins' Player of the Year.
The son of former Broncos star John Plath played 21 games and made an impact in each one.
And in a remarkable feat, Plath also took out the Players' Player Award at Redcliffe, showing the respect in which he was held by his team-mates.
The 23-year-old utility forward played a handful of games in his debut season in 2023 but after his deeds this year, it's safe to say he will be a mainstay of the Dolphins pack for a long time to come.
Titans - Keano Kini
After a tentative debut season in the NRL in 2023, exciting fullback Keano Kini blossomed in 2024.
So much so that he took out the Paul Broughton Medal for player of the season at the Titans.
The late Paul Broughton was a great mate of mine and loved attacking football - I'm sure he would approve of the club's choice.
The best thing for the Titans is that Auckland-born Kini is still only 20 and has his best football in front of him.
What a prospect he is - and what a feat it was beating players like Jayden Campbell, Kieran Foran and David Fifita to take out the award.
Sea Eagles - Tommy Talau
There were few better value buys in 2024 than Manly winger Tommy Talau.
In five seasons with the Tigers, Talau scored just 20 tries - in his Manly debut year he bagged 18.
Big, strong and fast, he is the classic modern outside back, capable of scoring spectacular diving tries as well as running his team out of trouble after kicks downfield.
The 24-year-old was recognised for his efforts with one of the club's most prized honours - the Manly Mentality Award - and has quickly established himself as a Brookvale favourite.
Storm - Trent Loiero
No coach has the ability to turn average players into very good ones better than Craig Bellamy and he performed magic again this season with unheralded middle man Trent Loiero.
The 23-year-old from Nambour in Queensland debuted for the club in 2021 and it has been a slow, steady progression since then.
But Loiero really came into his own this year, playing 26 games including the grand final and coming up with some massive effort plays.
He won the Storm's Most Improved Player Award - confirming Wide World of Sport's opinion of his year.
Knights - Dane Gagai
He's in the veteran class now but Dane Gagai enjoyed one of his best seasons in the NRL in 2024.
While many teammates had up and down years, Gagai was a rock in the centres. His domination showed when the 33-year-old cleaned up at the Knights presentation night, taking out the Danny Buderus Medal for Player of the Year, the Players' Player award and Knights Gladiator of the Year award.
Queensland selectors also noticed his marvellous season, recalling him to Origin for the deciding game of the series.
With eight tries and countless try assists, he shone and came up with the big plays at the right times.
