NRL Team of the Decade: 2010-2019

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As the decade draws to a close, debate over the greatest players of the 2010s will be sure to inspire plenty of spirited discussion.

Countless stars have contributed moments set to live long into the annals of rugby league history over the past ten years, but to feature in the Team of the Decade consistency over a sustained period of time takes precedence over discrete seasons of individual brilliance.

To qualify for the Team of the Decade, members of the starting side had to play the majority of the decade in their selected position, while the interchange comprised of the best remaining outside back, playmaker, forward and utility.

This list is entirely subjective - so please engage with an open mind rather than hurling insults with no justification provided.

FULLBACK - BILLY SLATER

Standing head and shoulders above any other fullback throughout the 2010s, Slater starred at all levels of the game while persevering through a succession of injuries that would have bested lesser players lacking his resolve and resilience.

Defining Moment - Returning from a career-threatening shoulder injury in 2017, Slater regained his status as the game's premier number one by being named Dally M Fullback of the Year and Clive Churchill Medalist to go along with team triumphs with Melbourne, Queensland and Australia.

WING - BRETT MORRIS

The likes of Akuila Uate, Semi Radradra and Suliasi Vunivalu may have set new heights for wingers throughout the decade, but few speedsters remained as reliable as Morris. Helping club, state and country to successes while finishing the decade in the top ten try-scorers of all-time, the prolific speedster claimed a rare distinction as the only player to claim multiple man of the match honours in the annual World Club Challenge fixture.

Defining Moment - Dislocating his shoulder in Origin I, 2014 while scoring a try, Morris showed no signs of self-preservation to deny Darius Boyd in a tackle that helped New South Wales record an iconic win at Suncorp Stadium.

CENTRE - JARROD CROKER

Missing out on further representative honours despite being a pillar of consistency for the Raiders, the underrated centre stands as the second highest try-scorer over the decade along with holding the record for the most points scored during the same time.

Defining Moment - Having the resilience to bounce back from a devastating missed penalty goal in the 2010 semi final against the Wests Tigers, Croker is set to become only the seventh player in history to score over 2,000 points by season's end.

CENTRE - GREG INGLIS

Splitting his time between fullback and centre, Inglis left Melbourne in the wake of the 2010 salary cap scandal to become one of South Sydney's greatest ever players, all the while dominating for Queensland, Australia and the Indigenous All Stars along the way.

Defining Moment - Helping to realise something the Rabbitohs could never have envisioned after being kicked out of the premiership at the start of the millennium, GI's athleticism and power to score the final try in the 2014 grand final elevated him into legendary status.

WING - MANU VATUVEI

Achieving ground-breaking status as the only New Zealand player to score over 150 tries in first grade, Vatuvei terrorised opponents with his sheer presence to star for the Warriors at club level and help the Kiwis record several memorable victories on the international stage.

Defining Moment - Boasting a prolific try-scoring record that saw him leave the NRL as the archetype for the modern day winger, Vatuvei's reputation as "The Beast" propelled him to a cult level of status enjoyed by only a select few in the history of the game.

FIVE-EIGHTH - JOHNATHAN THURSTON

Holding the record as the highest point-scorer for Queensland and Australia, winning the Preston Campbell medal in the inaugural All Stars match, and leading the Cowboys to their first NRL title, Thurston remained the ultimate competitor up until the moment the fulltime siren sounded in his final match.

Defining Moment - Having missed a sideline conversion that would have won the Cowboys the 2015 grand final in regulation time, Thurston defied a serious shoulder injury to nail a goal from the same position in his final act for Queensland to keep the 2017 State of Origin series alive.

HALFBACK - COOPER CRONK

Starting the decade as an accomplished yet often undervalued member of Melbourne's superstar roster, the fallout of the 2010 salary cap drama saw Cronk help the Storm claim two premierships as a member of the Big Three before branching out on his own to deliver similar success to the Roosters in the twilight of his career.

Defining Moment - Fracturing his scapula in the Roosters preliminary final win in 2018, Cronk made the greatest "non-performance" of all time to lead the Tricolours to victory over his former teammates through his on-field presence and sheer determination to defy injury.

PROP - ANDREW FIFITA

Making his first grade debut with the Wests Tigers at the start of the decade, Fifita came into his element at Cronulla to play a pivotal role in the Sharks' maiden premiership victory.

Defining Moment - While his power to score the match-winning try in the 2016 grand final and heroics in the opening State of Origin match the following year earned deserved praise, Fifita's leadership in the face of injury with the Sharks highlighted his maturity as a player willing to go the distance for his teammates.

HOOKER - CAMERON SMITH

Breaking nearly every conceivable record to finish the 2010s as the highest point-scorer in premiership history and the first to play 400 NRL games, Smith stands as arguably the greatest player to ever grace a rugby league field.

Defining Moment - In the century following the birth of rugby league in Australia, no player has featured in as many matches as Smith, nor remained as influential in determining the result of matches.

PROP - JAMES GRAHAM

Making the move to Australia after establishing himself as an icon with St Helens in the English Super League, Graham stood out from his contemporaries through his ball-playing ability and ferocious approach with and without the ball.

Defining Moment - Having built a strong connection with the Bulldogs to extent he was named captain following Michael Ennis' departure, Graham took the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved club by moving on to alleviate salary cap pressure created by forces beyond his control.

SECOND ROW - SAM BURGESS

Coming to Australia at the start of the decade carrying tremendous weight of expectation, Burgess surpassed the initial hype to lead South Sydney to their first premiership in 43 years before returning from a stint in European rugby to assert his legacy as one of the greatest Englishmen to ever play down under.

Defining Moment - Sustaining a broken cheekbone in the opening tackle of the 2014 grand final, Burgess demonstrated extreme toughness and commitment to his teammates to help the Rabbitohs achieve their 21st premiership.

SECOND ROW - JASON TAUMALOLO

Debuting in first grade while still at school, Taumalolo showed immense yet inconsistent talent in his NRL infancy before breaking new ground as a the first forward to win the Dally M medal in 2016.

Defining Moment - Establishing a reputation as the game's premier forward, Taumalolo declared his allegiance to Tonga for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, creating a chain reaction that inspired a legion of teammates to do likewise in honouring their heritage and turn the minnow nation into a rising powerhouse on the international stage.

LOCK - PAUL GALLEN

Set to finish his career as the fifth oldest player to ever appear in first grade, Gallen reformed his understanding of toughness over the course of the decade to captain New South Wales and Cronulla to historic victories.

Defining Moment - With New South Wales down 1-0 in his first Origin campaign as captain in 2011, Gallen produced a performance for the ages to play 80 minutes at starting prop for the first time in his career.

INTERCHANGE (OUTSIDE BACK) - DARIUS BOYD

Enjoying tremendous success with Queensland and Australia as part of a formidable combination alongside Greg Inglis on the left edge, Boyd held a strong case as one of the best fullbacks at club level at the height of his powers across stints with the Dragons, Knights and Broncos.

Defining Moment - While his performances by the end of the decade paled in comparison to earlier feats, Boyd's influence upon the Dragons during their 2010 premiership season saw him earn man of the match honours in a win Red V supporters feared would never come.

INTERCHANGE (PLAYMAKER) - JAMES MALONEY

Winning premierships with Sydney and Cronulla, claiming Origin victories with New South Wales and representing Australia, Maloney would rank as the most consistent playmaker of the decade if not for the presence of Thurston and Cronk.

Defining Moment - Taking charge of a fresh-faced New South Wales team under the guidance of former great Brad Fittler in 2018, Maloney brought his big game experience to the fore by inspiring the Blues towards a new era of State of Origin history.

INTERCHANGE (FORWARD) - COREY PARKER

Defying conventional wisdom to continue improving his game well past 30, Parker stood up for the Broncos at club level while providing Queensland and Australia with brilliant service up until his retirement.

Defining Moment - After making his representative debut with Queensland during the mid-2000s, Parker thrived upon his return to the Origin arena with offloading skills that formed a focal part of the success enjoyed during the Maroons unprecedented run.

INTERCHANGE (UTILITY) - MITCHELL AUBUSSON

In a career that has featured time in almost every position on the field, Aubusson stands as one of the most valuable players during the Roosters era of success due to his ability to  accommodate his own personal preferences for the good of the team.

Defining Moment - In one of the great tragedies of rugby league throughout the 2010s, the demise of City v Country provided Aubusson with the opportunity to adorn the Country jersey for the final fixture in a memorable moment for a player regarded in the highest esteem by his peers.

HONOURABLE MENTION - PRESTON CAMPBELL

Rugby League in the 2010s began with the inaugural All Stars match - the realisation of Preston Campbell's vision to empower Indigenous Australians to connect with their culture.

Managing just 39 appearances in two seasons this decade after a storied playing career bookended by stints on the Gold Coast, the legacy left by Campbell extends well beyond any achievement on the football field.

Inspiring a new generation of Indigenous superstars, such as Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, to take pride in their culture and stand up to racism, Campbell stands as an icon of the game for using his platform to create change felt across society.

This article originally appeared at Robert Crosby.