It's a near impossible task, but Corey Parker accepted the challenge.

We asked the SENQ Breakfast co-host to name his top 50 players for the forthcoming NRL season and he has not let us down.

"It doesn't sit well with me putting numbers next to people," he said. "I changed it, I changed it again.

"The balls were in the air and I didn't catch any of them. There's scribble everywhere.

"It's all about opinion, that's sport."

PARKER'S TOP 50:

#50 - Rob Toia - In his first year last year he was absolutely exceptional. Good defender, doesn't shy away. His best footy is still a head of him and he’ll march up this list if he continues on this trajectory.

#49 - Isaiah Iongi - He is a natural ball runner with incredible speed off the mark. Last year he had some incredible plays and his best is ahead of him which is scary. There was wonderful trust from the coach for him. Still refining the position, still understanding the demands he has to have but no doubt has the talent.

#48 - Lachie Galvin - A player front and centre of all things last year. Goes without saying, he has got elite game awareness, great short kicking game and is ultra competitive. Have we seen the best yet? Absolutely not. From a skillset point of view, he has exactly what it takes to be a top echelon player in the NRL for a long period of time.

#47 - Kaeo Weekes - If you saw what he did last year he was instrumental in Canberra’s run to the minor premiership. Genuine speed, think about Reece Walsh, he has blinding speed and is electric with what he does. Defensively he has things to work on but he is extremely talented. He’s a superstar moving forward. It's scary to think how good he could be.

#46 - Mark Nawaqanitawase - It's a shame to see him go back to Rugby Union. There is still a spot for him in this 50. He’s a supreme athlete. He showed last year what he is able to do with the ball. If he was to stay in NRL he would have to fix some defensive side.

#45 - Casey McLean - He was injected into the NZ side at such an early age and his try scoring ability is incredible. He is a powerful finisher, strong through the hips. He is going to be a serious player in the rep arena for a long time. He is built long-term for the NRL.

#44 - Leka Halasima - He will elevate, next year he will be higher, up towards the top. He can play a number of positions, back row, centre, he’s got great ability but he is very raw.

#43 - Xavier Willison - A huge future. He is going to be thrust into the Payne Haas void. We saw glimpses of what he will become.

#42 - Terrell May - People will think he should be higher. He gets the job done, he is very effective. His next challenge is proving if he can play at Test and Origin Level. He is brilliant at club level.

#41 - Scott Drinkwater - I love him, when he is playing at his best the Cowboys are flying. Scotty is at the helm. Wonderful creator and wonderful mover but I need to see consistent play from him.

#40 - Reuben Cotter - I love everything about Reuben Cotter, he is determined he is relentless but 40 seems fair. He is a very good player.

#39 - Nicho Hynes - The big knock on Nicho is can he get it done in the big games? Can he take his club to the next level. You can’t disagree that he is a great club player, a Dally M medal proves that.

#38 - Stefano Utoikamanu - Improving week on week, year on year. Still very young and learning the tools of his trade.

#37 - Keano Kini - Electric ball runner, he has great acceleration. If he can perform consistently he can put him self in the Edwards/Tedesco elite category.

#36 - Reece Robson - He’s a tough competitor - Very strong defensively, he’s a set-and-forget type player, he won’t let you down.

#35 - James Fisher-Harris - His best footy is behind him respectfully, the days of him dominating through the middle part of field are over but he is still one of the great props in the game.

#34 - Api Koroisau - Still very creative in that middle part of the field.

#33 - Matt Burton - He has the best high kicking game in the competition. He’s such a versatile player. He can elevate up this list very quickly. Maybe he goes back to the centres?

#32 - Latrell Mitchell - His potential speaks for itself, he’s got everything, size, strength speed etc. But does he have consistency? I’d love to see Latrell dominate the competition week after week.

#31 - Kalyn Ponga - He needs to have a lights out year to elevate the Knights up the table. He has elite footwork.

#30 Jarome Luai - He came under a lot of scrutiny last year when he signed the big money deal at the Tigers. He is changing what is going on there at the Tigers. A great leader.

#29 Sam Walker - 16 try assists in 9 games last year is incredible. He has a massive future and will be higher up this list next year.

#28 Angus Crichton - He is in the top echelon of backrowers and Sam Walker's bodyguard. Runs hard.

#27 Brian To’o - These next 2 guys have changed the game. Winning the Brad Fittler Medal from the wing is an unbelievable effort. Clocking up over 200m in Origin games is sheer brilliance.

#26 Xavier Coates - Arguably the best aerial winger in the game at the moment.

#25 Kotoni Staggs - He was instrumental in the Broncos winning the premiership. Led the NRL in line-breaks last year. The Canberra game when Reece Walsh went to the bin, Staggs put the team on his back.

#24 Dylan Edwards - He is such a team player. Constantly makes massive yardage and always gives you a consistent 7 or 8 out of 10 every game he plays.

#23 Eli Katoa - It’s unfortunate that we won’t see him this year. His first half of the grand final was elite. Strong ball runner. I think he was the best backrower in the competition last year.

#22 Hudson Young - He has got a lot of mongrel about him. Also has plenty of smarts, seems to show up at the right time. Plays a vital role for the Raiders.

#21 Pat Carrigan - He’s a wonderful player and defensively very good. An absolute work horse that played 25 games last year. Could have been higher.

#20 Viliame Kikau - If you’re an opposition half on Kikau’s side of the field you know he is coming after you. He’s very skillful too and is elite at charging down kicks.

#19 Mitch Moses - One of the elite kicking games in the competition. There is an argument to be had that when he wears the Sky Blue #7 he makes them a better football team.

#18 - Liam Martin - I love the way he plays - He gets right up into your grill and makes things personal.

#17 - Tino Fa'asuamaleaui - He is a natural leader. One of the best front rowers in the game. Belongs in the Top 20.

#16 - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow - He has an uncanny knack of scoring tries. 22 tries in 21 games last season. He will be a huge reason why they can bust into the top 8 this year.

#15 - Ethan Strange - If I was the Raiders I’d be tying this kid up for a long time. He is a natural ball runner and at 20 years of age he has taken the competition by storm. He was a big reason why the Raiders went on a run to the Minor Premiership.

#14 - Isaah Yeo - If you look up what a complete package of a footballer is you’ll see a picture of Isaah Yeo.

#13 - Stephen Crichton - He is a big-game player. He is one of the best defensive players I have ever seen. He could play anywhere on the field. His defence overshadows how effective he is in attack. His left hand flick is so dangerous.

#12 - Adin Fonua Blake - People don’t understand just how good this guy is defensively - to only miss 31 tackles across a season of 27 games is elite. He constantly comes up with a big play when his team needs it.

#11 - Cameron Munster - I felt like last year wasn’t near his best. I didn’t see a lot of consistency in his game. His defence was not quite where it has been. Make no mistake he is still a top player and a big-game player for the ages.

#10 Tom Dearden - The elite competitor. When you look up competitor his face is there. Tough as nails defensively and keeps improving. The Cowboys were underperforming last year but their number 7 did not. He was, I think, their best.

#9 Herbie Farnworth - In scintillating touch last year for the Dolphins; 19 game 9 tries. Defensive efficiency, which is hard to do in the centres, lots of one-on-one stuff. He could not be tackled, hard to handle 1-1, he has a big motor and goes after the game at both ends of the field. Huge contributor for what they do.

#8 Harry Grant - Probably the closest to a Cameron Smith clone. Great control over the game and tempo of the game. Elite defensive work and he’s very crafty. Was it his best season? I think we’ve seen better. He did get better and was instrumental for why they were able to get into a Grand Final and why they have done that for the last few seasons.

#7 James Tedesco - He was one of the most consistent. He’s the ultimate pro. Incredibly reliable and the Dally M Medal winner in 2024. He had a win rate of about 70%, been very good for them for a long period of time.

#6 - Isaiah Katoa this will cause a stir. He doesn’t get the wraps in the rugby league community that he deserves, from the right people he does. They were the best attacking team in the comp by a street, and that was on the back of him. 23 try assists in 24 games. He’ll be the face of rugby league in a few years time. Ultimate professional for a young guy. He’s very much beyond his years. If he was playing for the Rooster, Panthers or one of the big Sydney clubs he would be a pin-up boy.

#5 - Joe Tapine - He’s an elite front rower, providing a point of difference that others don’t. I think Tapine was right at the forefront of what the Raiders were doing last year. He will show up and give an 8-9 our of 10 every week.

#4 - Jarome Hughes - You talk about influence on a football team, they didn’t win premierships the last two years but he has been right at the top of the tree. Their win rate when he is playing is through the roof. When he plays for Storm, they win. He has recreated his game. 20 try assists last year in 20 games.

#3 - Payne Haas - Speaks for himself. He made 828 tackles last year, only missed 13. He’s an anomaly. The way he plays, the way he trains, the one percenters I think is what will be missed most about Payne Haas. he just has an ability to turn up when he has no right to.

#2 - Natahan Cleary - By the time Nathan's career is done he will be the games greatest halfback. He just delivers and he’s done it on the biggest stage. When they were sitting dead last in the comp and went to a prelim final, a lot of that was from Nathan Cleary.

#1 - Reece Walsh - Before I started this I said this would be judged on the form I saw last year. Reece's influence on the game and the rugby league world last year, is something I have not seen. He played 21 games, they won 16 of them. The Broncos were bubbling away, after the Melbourne Loss they won 8 in a row. Since that game he had 12 try assists and 22 line break assists and arguably one of the greatest grand final performances you will see. I have no doubt he is the league's number one player going into 2026.